A new bill that was presented to the United States Congress has sent shivers down the spines of international students, especially those who are undertaking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies, by proposing to terminate Optional Practical Training (OPT), an authorisation to work programme that allows them to stay in the country for three years after graduation.
India Tops List of Foreign Students in the US
Based on the Open Doors 2024 report, India was the leading country of origin for foreign students in the US during the academic year 2023–2024, at 331,602 students, a 23 per cent increase from the earlier year.
About 97,556 of them engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT), indicating a 41 per cent rise.
OPT in the Crosshairs Amid Anti-Immigrant Push
Although previous efforts to terminate OPT have been unsuccessful, this legislation occurs in the context of a larger tide of anti-immigrant policy initiatives within the current administration.
Mass deportations and tighter visa controls are a central plank of Donald Trump’s election promises, causing anxiety among current F-1 and M-1 visa holders.
They are now applying in large numbers for jobs that might enable them to switch their status to an H-1B visa, which is generally supported by large American and Indian technology companies, the report further stated.
OPT Crucial for Career Transition, Says Expert
“OPT allows students to find jobs in the US for one year after they graduate and may be extended for another two years provided you are a STEM graduate and are working with a qualified US employer,” the news report quoted Poorvi Chothani, founder of immigration law firm LawQuest as saying.
“If the bill goes through, OPT could end abruptly without an option to transition to another work visa. Students may have to leave the US immediately,” she added.
Students Consider Faster Transitions and Overseas Options
Chothani also said that OPT students will have to accelerate their transition to an H-1B visa if they are chosen in the lottery or look into opportunities abroad.
Those who will be seeking higher education in the US might even have to plan for a UK-like system that sends students home after completing studies.
Loss of OPT Could Trigger Economic Shock
A larger concern, she added, is the economic shock. Without OPT, students stand to miss out on years of US-scale incomes that enable them to pay off huge student loans.
As per a report, some Indian students have cancelled their summer vacation travel plans with a fear of not being permitted to return to the country.
High-profile universities like Cornell, Columbia, and Yale have informally instructed international students to stay away from returning home during the holidays, the report added.
