OPT

Latest in OPT

Schmitt backs overhaul of OPT, seeks end to post-graduate visas

Sen. Eric Schmitt pressed DHS to reform or end OPT, which permits F‑1 graduates up to 12 months of post‑study…

Missouri Senator Seeks OPT Overhaul, Calls It a Cheap Labor Pipeline

Senator Eric Schmitt urged DHS to end or reform OPT on November 15, 2025, calling it a cheap-labor pipeline. OPT…

OPT Restrictions Move Forward: H.R. 2315 Aims to End OPT

DHS is drafting rules that may curtail or end F-1 OPT and STEM-OPT, with a proposal expected by late 2025…

Future of OPT: International Students and U.S. Universities Must Do

OPT and its STEM-OPT extension face possible elimination or restriction via H.R. 2315 and DHS rulemaking. Ending FICA exemptions could…

Is SEVP Back to Normal Operations After the Shutdown?

Because SEVP is fee-funded, it stayed operational through the shutdown. Schools and AILA reported uninterrupted SEVIS access, continued issuance of…

What International Students Should Do If OPT Is Delayed by a Shutdown

Shutdown-related slowdowns are delaying physical EAD and SSN cards after online OPT approvals, pushing back F‑1 students’ start dates. Monitor…

How the 2025 Government Shutdown Impacts F-1 Visa, OPT, and CPT

Fee-funded USCIS, consular operations, and SEVIS will keep processing F-1 visas, OPT, and CPT during the 2025 shutdown, but DOL…

From F-1 to H-1B: A Practical Guide for U.S. Employment

New rules add a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions starting September 21, 2025, and shift selection toward higher wages…