OPT
Latest in 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 changes threaten…
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, starting the…
US OPT Scams: Unpaid Work Triggers F-1 Visa Panic Today
Authorities are auditing OPT and STEM OPT employers after scams involving fake payrolls and unpaid work. STEM OPT needs paid,…
New $100,000 H-1B Fee Applies Only to Overseas Petitions
A $100,000 fee, effective September 21, 2025, applies only to new H‑1B petitions filed for beneficiaries outside the U.S. F‑1…
OPT and CPT in 2025: Key rules, STEM extensions, and tips
In 2025, CPT (DSO‑authorized, curriculum‑linked) and OPT (USCIS‑approved with EAD) remain key for F‑1 students. Avoid 12+ months full‑time CPT…
India Could Benefit as U.S. H-1B Fee Pushes Talent Home
The U.S. will impose a $100,000 one-time fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, exempting renewals. Experts…
Republicans Push to End F-1 Work Authorizations, Threatening OPT
Sen. Chuck Grassley urged DHS to end F-1 work authorizations, threatening OPT and related programs. OPT remains available (as of…
How International Students Subsidize U.S. Education—and the H-1B Crackdown
A proposed $100,000 one-time fee on new H-1B petitions could deter international students, cut university revenues (potentially $3 billion), and…