u/dough-a-lipa

Hi yall,
My OPT ends mid June, and I am thinking of doing premium processing for my STEM OPT, but I have seen in the last couple of months in this sub that a lot of people are not getting approvals in 2-4 weeks like last year with PP, so is it worth it to pay that much or should I do regular processing? Or is that a minority and people are getting approved quick?

For context: I am still in talks with an employer who is yet to give me an offer but I do not think 180 days wait time should be an issue, I just want to do PP for peace of mind. Also, I am Indian, if that makes a difference.

Thank you for your wisdom!
Edit: I have my offer and I-983 incoming, I didn’t originally say that because it’s just verbal right now

So my OPT is ending mid June, and I am currently working in an unpaid role. I got a verbal offer from a potential employer for a paid role. But it might take a while to get a written offer letter. I want to push them to expedite the process but here is where I am confused:
Do I need to start working for them before my OPT ends or can I get an offer letter for a joining date that is later in June and just apply to STEM before my OPT expires with just the offer letter as proof