What comes as bad news for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students from India and elsewhere, who are studying in the United States, is that they are facing the threat of leaving the country as soon as they complete their studies. The threat is hovering over students following a bill that was introduced in Congress recently to end Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorisation.
Notably, the bill was introduced amid several anti-immigrant moves, which also included mass deportations by the Trump administration.
Recent changes have caused considerable anxiety among current F-1 and M-1 visa holders in the US. Many are actively seeking employment that will allow them to obtain H-1B visas, typically sponsored by major US and Indian tech firms. This urgency is underscored by the Open Doors 2024 report, which indicates over 300,000 Indian students were studying in the US during the 2023-24 academic year, with a significant portion eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
According to Poorvi Chothani of LawQuest, a Florida-based immigration law firm, “OPT allows students to find jobs in the US for one year after they graduate and may be extended for another two years provided you are a STEM graduate and are working with a qualified US employer.”
“If the bill goes through, OPT could end abruptly without an option to transition to another work visa. Students may have to leave the US immediately.”
Currently, non-STEM graduates have to leave the country a year after completing their studies.
Individuals holding OPT visas should either expedite their H-1B visa application if their lottery entry is successful or seek employment opportunities abroad. Additionally, international students should anticipate post-graduation departure requirements similar to those in the United Kingdom.
“The biggest fallout, though, will be missing out on work opportunities and the ability to earn a US salary for a couple of years or so to pay back hefty student loans,” Chothani stated.
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