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The Optional Practical Training program is once again under close scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as the agency's specialists are currently reassessing the program's impact on the labor market and national security. The reason for the reassessment is concern that local specialists are being disadvantaged in favor of foreign students, numerous cases of fraud, and a lack of adequate oversight of regulatory compliance. Senator Schmitt, who initiated the review, claims that OPT is often used by large companies as a cheap source of foreign labor and creates obstacles for American graduates, making it harder for them to access jobs.
Representatives of the education sector are trying to protect the program from being abolished and remind that it is precisely this program that promotes innovation and job creation in the technology sector. Studies show that eliminating OPT could lead to annual losses of $220 billion to $440 billion over the next 10 years!
Brief information summary: OPT allows international students to remain in the U.S. for up to one year after graduation, with STEM field representatives being offered an additional 2-year extension. Statistically, nearly 50% of program participants are Indian, followed by Chinese.
