USCIS updated its direct-filing instructions for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on October 7, 2026. The agency also established a temporary grace period: paper applications sent to a previous filing location will be accepted if postmarked on or before November 9, 2026.
For F-1 students, the key point is straightforward. Current USCIS instructions direct standalone paper applications for pre-completion OPT, post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the 24-month STEM OPT extension to the Chicago Lockbox. The address depends on whether the applicant uses the U.S. Postal Service or a private delivery company. (dejavu.org)
The following addresses apply when an F-1 student files Form I-765 by itself under one of these eligibility categories:
USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03
P.O. Box 805373
Chicago, IL 60680-5374
USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03 (Box 805373)
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
The courier address should not be used for USPS deliveries, and the USPS post office box should not be used for FedEx, UPS or DHL packages. USCIS warns that sending an application to an inappropriate location can delay processing. (dejavu.org)
Eligible F-1 students may also file Form I-765 online for pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. Students choosing paper filing should confirm the address again immediately before shipping their application because USCIS can revise filing locations. For a broader overview of the application process, see Day1CPT.org’s OPT and STEM OPT guide.
Students requesting premium processing must file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. The correct address depends on whether Form I-907 is being submitted for an already-pending Form I-765 or together with a new Form I-765.
Do not submit another copy of Form I-765.
USPS:
USCIS
Attn: I-907
P.O. Box 805501
Chicago, IL 60680-4116
FedEx, UPS or DHL:
USCIS
Attn: I-907 (P.O. Box 805501)
131 South Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
USPS:
USCIS
Attn: I-907
P.O. Box 88782
Chicago, IL 60680-1782
FedEx, UPS or DHL:
USCIS
Attn: I-907 (Box 88782)
131 South Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
These addresses are different from the address for a standalone Form I-765. Mixing them up could delay intake or cause the package to be returned. (dejavu.org)
The Chicago OPT address is not a universal Form I-765 filing address. USCIS determines the correct destination using the eligibility category entered in Question 27 of Form I-765 and, for some applicants, the state where they live.
For example, the October 2026 instructions direct some H-4 employment authorization applications to Dallas or Phoenix, while J-2 and M-1 applicants must consult USCIS’s lockbox chart based on their circumstances and residence. Applicants should therefore search the official address page using their exact eligibility category rather than copying an address from another EAD applicant. (dejavu.org)
CPT applicants should also note that Curricular Practical Training is generally authorized by a school’s Designated School Official on Form I-20. F-1 students do not file Form I-765 to obtain standard CPT authorization.
Before shipping a paper OPT or STEM OPT application:
The lockbox filing destination is separate from the applicant’s mailing address entered on Form I-765. If a student moves while the case is pending, updating an address with USPS alone does not update USCIS records, and USPS generally does not forward USCIS mail. Applicants should update USCIS directly and include the receipt number for each pending case. (egov.uscis.gov)
The updated USCIS page currently directs standalone paper applications for pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT and STEM OPT to the Chicago Lockbox. Students should use the addresses listed for their delivery method and should not assume that a broader Form I-765 address update moved OPT filings elsewhere.
Yes. F-1 students applying under categories (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B) or (c)(3)(C) may file Form I-765 through an eligible USCIS online account instead of mailing a paper application. Online filing eliminates the need to select a lockbox mailing address, but the applicant must still meet all applicable OPT deadlines and evidence requirements. (uscis.gov)
USCIS announced that it will accept applications sent to previous filing locations if they are postmarked on or before November 9, 2026. After that grace period, using an outdated address may delay processing or result in the package being returned. Applicants mailing close to a deadline should use the current address rather than relying on the grace period. (dejavu.org)
Not for standard F-1 OPT and STEM OPT paper applications under categories (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B) and (c)(3)(C); USCIS currently directs those standalone filings to Chicago. Other I-765 categories may use an address determined by the applicant’s residence, eligibility category, related application or receipt number.
No. Form I-907 has separate addresses depending on whether it is filed for a pending Form I-765 or submitted together with a new Form I-765. Students should use the specific premium-processing address shown in the current USCIS instructions.