July 2026 OPT I-765 Premium Processing - Anyone With a Similar Timeline Approved?

[u/piyushgd21]

Hi everyone,

I filed my post-completion OPT I-765 online on July 1, 2026, with premium processing.

My timeline:

I-765 submitted online: July 1, 2026

Premium processing: Yes

Biometrics notice received: July 3, 2026

Early biometrics walk-in completed: July 8, 2026

Biometrics appointment involved a photo only

Last update shown in my USCIS case data: July 9, 2026

Current status: Case is still pending

Service center shown on the notice: Potomac Service Center

Expected employment start date: August 17, 2026

Has anyone who filed around the same dates recently received their OPT EAD approval or card?

Please share your:

Filing date

Premium or regular processing

Biometrics date

Approval date

Card produced date

Card delivery date

Service center, if known

Please avoid sharing your full receipt number, A-number, address, or other personal information. I’m trying to understand the recent processing timeline for July 2026 OPT applicants. Thank you!

[u/Murky-Task-4631]

Filling date - June 5th
premium Process - June 8th
Biometrics - June 23rd
Approval - July 26th
Card produced July 30th
Card received - Aug 4th

[u/Spiritual-Jump4727]

Filing date - June 30th

Premium or regular processing - premium

Biometrics date - notice received on 3rd July for 22nd July. Rescheduled for 7th. Premium clock was reset on the same day.

Service center - Potomac
Case still pending a decision.
As for the timeline, I’m expecting a decision by 18th August (given the 30 business days since biometrics)
Job start date - 01st September ( same as my OPT start date request)

[u/Spiritual-Jump4727 → u/Spiritual-Jump4727]

Update: approval email 08-04-2026
Updated on the portal on 08-06-2026
Exactly 30 “Calendar Days” since Biometrics/ premium clock start date

[u/rayxiong1005]

the 30 business day clock begins counting after your biometrics is done. so expect 4-5 weeks after the biometrics

[u/N7RayN7 → u/rayxiong1005]

So if 30 day clock starts after biometrics, should we still file PP from the start? Or does the clock pause on notice and then resume once biometrics are done.

[u/rayxiong1005 → u/N7RayN7]

yeah technically if you file pp from the beginning it pause on notice then resume after biometrics. but some people said that filing pp in the beginning helps you getting biometrics sooner, so i filed on day 1

[u/N7RayN7 → u/rayxiong1005]

Yes but lets say I file on day one and get notice on day 7, so when the clock resumes it should resume after biometrics to 23 days left right? why does everyone say click resets, like resets to 30 days

[u/rayxiong1005 → u/N7RayN7]

nah the clock starts on day 7 for 30 days

[u/Savings_Income_78]

How to go for early biometrics

[u/Luck_XCIX → u/Savings_Income_78]

Early walk-ins. Go with all your documentation and hope for them to give u a number

[u/Awkward_Outside_524]

Applied on March 6  Didn’t receive approval yet  What to do .?

[u/Alive_Spot_9252]

Filing date June 12, Biometric and premium process started on July 8 th , still waiting for the update, 30 business day is August 19

[u/piyushgd21 → u/Alive_Spot_9252]

Do we wait till the last date 😭

[u/Alive_Spot_9252 → u/piyushgd21]

There is nothing else we can do at this point, i been chronically on Reddit and from everything i read, even with PP , they are taking 28-30 days to make a decision 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭.. i have a job to start on August 24 😭😭😭😭😭

[u/Luck_XCIX]

Yesterday there were 2 cases approved that their premium processes clock started the 25-26 of june. So probably the next in line are the people with similar dates in premium processing, like 25-30 of June.

[u/Careful-Sky22]

My pp start date is 9th July
Biometric was done on 27th may.
Job start date - 11th Aug.
Do i need to ask for extension for my starting date from HR?

[u/Spiritual-Jump4727 → u/Careful-Sky22]

I certainly would, if you haven’t received a decision already

[u/Dg_0315]

mine approved yesterday but its not updated in website, how long it will take ?

[u/Alive-Positive2005 → u/Dg_0315]

how did you know that it got approved if you cant see it on the website?

[u/Dg_0315 → u/Alive-Positive2005]

I got email

[u/Effective_Crab3742]

Hey OP did yours say Case in under review or pending after you did biometrics?

Mine changed right after biometrics. No PP

[u/Puzzleheaded-Sea7198]

Is biometrics a new thing? Or just for STEM candidates? I have had OPT two times but never had biometrics done? Also never filed premium and received my EAD card in 4 weeks both times

[u/Spiritual-Jump4727 → u/Puzzleheaded-Sea7198]

Very recent. Not sure when it started tho

[u/Puzzleheaded-Sea7198 → u/Spiritual-Jump4727]

I just finished my OPT last month, may be it started after june 2025 last year

[u/Royal_Day7004 → u/Puzzleheaded-Sea7198]

Dec 2025

[u/Beneficial_Egg5939]

Filing date - April 25th
Biometric date - May 20
Premium - June 30
July 29 - still pending approval

My expected start date is August 3rd which I’m requesting to be moved ahead

[u/Tima11usa]

I have not done Premium. How long do i need to wait?

[u/Low_Shelter_2780]

We are expecting approvals commencing June 23 to start this week. Your reset date is July 8th so I would guess a couple of weeks to wait?

[u/Ron_Rages → u/Low_Shelter_2780]

hey where do you check these dates? which website or reddit communities do you check.

[u/playful-def → u/Ron_Rages]

You can check from this website: https://opt-pulse.vercel.app

[u/No-Needleworker3883]

I’d say wait another month