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.
Why the OPT Program Termination Is More Complex Than It Seems
OPT remains vital in 2025, granting work authorization to F-1 students with expanded eligibility. Over 240,000 use OPT to gain U.S. work experience. Enforcement now focuses on unemployment limits and…
OPT Students Face Deportation Risk Over Employment Data Lapses
ICE’s new 15-day employment reporting for OPT students enforces strict SEVIS status rules. Non-compliance causes termination and deportation…
Laid-Off Indian Workers on OPT Weigh H-4 Visa Switch or Return Home
Laid-off Indian OPT workers must act within 60 days to find a job, change visa, or return home.…
Is Optional Practical Training Ending? What International Students Need to Know
OPT and STEM extensions remain open for F-1 students in 2026. While a DHS review is ongoing, current…
Trump’s OPT Rollback Plan Threatens US Work Visas for Indian STEM Graduates
The proposed OPT elimination targets Indian STEM graduates, restricting crucial work options and H-1B visa transitions. With rising…
Paul Gosar pushes to end Optional Practical Training for students
The OPT program permits international students to work in U.S. fields related to their studies. Despite challenges by…
F-1 OPT Students warned by DHS over missing employer updates
DHS resumed strict enforcement in 2025 requiring F-1 OPT students to report jobs within 10 days. Failure leads…
Optional Practical Training faces stricter checks for foreign graduates
OPT permits F-1 students to work up to 12 months post-graduation, with a 24-month STEM extension. In May…
US Tech Companies Reduce Hiring of H-1B Visa Holders and OPT Graduates
H-1B visa approvals declined sharply among US tech firms, amid over 300,000 layoffs and new immigration rules taking…
Indian visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan drop sharply after diplomatic row
A 42% drop in Indian visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan occurred after diplomatic tensions, especially among young…