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.
Is the Indian American Dream Transforming Under Immigration Hurdles
A proposed $100,000 H‑1B supplementary fee, possible OPT restrictions, and long green card backlogs threaten Indian students and professionals, prompting employers and individuals to seek alternatives like Canada, Europe, or…
Why Ending OPT Could Outweigh the H-1B Fee in U.S. Tech
A $100,000 fee now applies to new H-1B petitions filed from outside the U.S., but exemptions for OPT-to-H-1B…
Grassley Demands End to OPT for F-1 Students Amid Tensions
Sen. Grassley urged DHS to end OPT work authorizations for F-1 students, threatening 12–36 month post-study work rights.…
New $100,000 H-1B Fee Threatens OPT Path for Indian Students
A new $100,000 fee applies to certain H-1B petitions for workers abroad starting September 21, 2025, for 12…
Dignity Act and HIRE Act: Higher FICA for OPT Wages
Congress is reviewing the Dignity Act, ending FICA exemptions for OPT students, and the HIRE Act, adding a…
Beyond H-1B: Diversifying U.S. Career Paths for Indian Students
Facing tougher H-1B odds, Indian students are relying on OPT and STEM OPT as core strategies, supplemented by…
H-1B $100K Fee Spurs OPT-Driven Bypass to Hire Foreign Talent
A $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B petitions starts September 21, 2025; employers increasingly favor OPT—no cap, no…
Banks Proposes American Tech Workforce Act to Raise H-1B Wages
Sen. Jim Banks’ American Tech Workforce Act (Sept. 17, 2025) would raise H‑1B wages to at least $110,000,…
American Tech Workforce Act: End OPT and H-1B Lottery
The American Tech Workforce Act would eliminate OPT, raise H-1B salary floors to around $110,000 (potentially higher), and…
OPT Under Fire: Lawmakers Move to Eliminate Post-Study Work
OPT and the STEM OPT extension remain active but face possible termination through legislation and tighter oversight. In…