F-1 visa holders are already facing long delays in OPT processing, and many students are now opting for premium services to speed up approvals. However, one applicant’s experience shows that even fast track options may not guarantee timely results.
The applicant stated that they applied for pre-completion Optional Practical Training in December. They paid extra for premium processing within a week, and the system indicated that the premium timeline had officially started.
Despite this, no I-907 receipt notice was generated. The expected 30 business day deadline passed without any update, raising concerns about whether the application was being processed correctly.
Even after more than 90 days, the case remains unresolved. The applicant claimed that attempts to contact the premium processing unit were unsuccessful, and refund requests also did not receive any proper response.
With graduation scheduled in May, the delay created further complications. The purpose of pre-completion OPT was lost, leaving the applicant without any practical benefit from the original application.
Due to the uncertainty, the student decided to withdraw the pending request. They filed a new application for post-completion OPT under normal processing, while continuing to seek a refund for the earlier case.
This situation highlights more than just delays. It reflects a possible system issue where payment was accepted but no official receipt was issued, creating confusion and uncertainty for applicants.
Many students now feel forced to move forward instead of waiting for resolution. Such cases underline the challenges faced in an already complex immigration process for F-1 visa holders.
