OPT
Optional Practical Training rules for F-1 graduates — 12-month OPT, 24-month STEM extension, application timelines, employer requirements, unemployment limits, and cap-gap provisions.
OPT and STEM OPT in Peril: Indian Students Face New H-1B Rules
A $100,000 nonrefundable H-1B surcharge effective September 21, 2025, threatens OPT-to-H-1B conversions by raising employer costs. Caps remain unchanged, wage-based selection is under discussion, and lawsuits are pending. Students and…
OPT Under Fire: Indian Students Face Uncertainty Over Jobs and Status
A proposed $100,000 H‑1B fee, tougher DHS rules, and stepped-up enforcement are making OPT-to-H‑1B transitions riskier for Indian…
HUD Rule Bans FHA Loans for Non-Permanent Residents (H-1B/OPT)
Mortgagee Letter 2025-09 (March 26, 2025) excludes non‑permanent residents—including H-1B and OPT holders—from FHA loans. Mandatory for FHA…
Compact for Academic Excellence Remains Limited to Nine Institutions
The Compact for Academic Excellence would offer preferred federal funding to colleges that eliminate DEI, freeze undergraduate tuition…
Trump’s Tariffs and Immigration Policy: Global Trade and Jobs Outlook
Despite Trump’s tariffs, the global economy stayed resilient in 2025, with near‑3% GDP growth and rising trade. U.S.…
OPT Program Faces Termination Risk Amid 2025 Legislative Push
OPT remains in effect as of October 14, 2025, but faces possible termination under a new bill that…
F-1 OPT Student Stuck in SEVIS Termination After H-1B Withdrawal Delay
An F-1 OPT student with pending STEM extension faced SEVIS termination on October 1 after delayed USCIS confirmation…
Is America Still the Land of Opportunity for Immigrants in 2025?
The U.S. still offers top universities and market scale, but 2025 immigration proposals—huge H-1B fees, caps, and OPT…
How OPT Restrictions Could Shatter International Students’ U.S. Dreams
2025 proposals could limit OPT by instituting fixed F‑1 stays, employer fees, wage‑based selection, and FICA taxation. These…
F-1 OPT to H-1B COS: Laid Off After 2 Days—Now What?
After an approved F-1 OPT → H-1B effective October 1, 2025, the worker was laid off October 3,…