Secretary Noem announced that the DHS is reassessing the OPT program due to concerns about foreign labor impacting US workers. The review may lead to new regulations to address displacement of ...

The Trump administration has launched a formal review of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a key work route for ...

US government begins reassessing OPT programme that lets international graduates work after study, citing labour market, fraud and national security concerns ...

A letter from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dated January 9, 2026 shows the administration is formally ...

For India and other countries that send large numbers of students to US universities, the review carries significant implications. Indian nationals are among the largest recipients of F-1 visas, and ...

The F-1 nonimmigrant visa status allows noncitizens to study in the United States at U.S. colleges and universities. F-1 students may be eligible for off-campus employment under the following programs ...

In Washington Alliance of Technical Workers v. DHS (WashTech), the D.C. Circuit held that optional practical training programs (OPT) that allow students on the nonimmigrant F-1 visa to work in the ...

What is Optional Practical Training? Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment benefit that allows an F-1 student visa holder to remain in the US and gain additional training and ...

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an employment option available to students in F-1 status to gain practical experience in their major field(s) of study. The USCIS website has detailed information ...

F-1 students with degrees in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) and are currently engaged in Post-Completion OPT may be eligible for a 24-month extension of OPT. Please ...

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization ...