-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ab8UfwRU8vN19gVwJ2aXSoJAPxbOeDNPuzy6N0aq+ieArzBxyuoVUNxsqNNpyR0l
 rt40K5zpaZwG1pXFFzM6LQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000875626-08-000944.txt : 20080410
<SEC-HEADER>0000875626-08-000944.hdr.sgml : 20080410
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080410081249
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000875626-08-000944
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	497J
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080410
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080410
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20080410

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FT 1696
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001428629
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		497J
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-149897
		FILM NUMBER:		08748805

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS, L.P.
		STREET 2:		1001 WARRENVILLE ROAD, SUITE 300
		CITY:			LISLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60532
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-241-4141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS, L.P.
		STREET 2:		1001 WARRENVILLE ROAD, SUITE 300
		CITY:			LISLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60532
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>497J
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>j497.txt
<DESCRIPTION>DEFINITIVE LETTER
<TEXT>


                  FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.
                      1001 WARRENVILLE ROAD
                     LISLE, ILLINOIS  60532


                          April 10, 2008


Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street NE
Washington D.C. 20549

Attn:     Filing Desk, Stop 1-4

     Re:           FT 1696
              (File No. 333-149897) (CIK No. 0001428629)

Gentlemen:

     In   accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Rule  497(j)  of
Regulation  C  under the Securities Act of 1933 (the  "Securities
Act")  this  letter  serves  to  certify  that  the  most  recent
amendment to the registration statement on Form S-6 for the above
captioned  Trust does not differ from that which would have  been
filed  pursuant to Rule 497(b) of the Securities Act.   Amendment
No. 1,  which was the most recent Amendment to the Registration
Statement, was filed electronically with the Commission on
April 4, 2008.

                                    Very truly yours,
                                    FT 1696, Registrant


                                    By: FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P., Depositor
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----