The Optional Practical Training ( OPT ) programme, a popular route for international students, including many from India, to gain work experience in the United States after graduation, is now facing increasing scrutiny. As conversations over foreign worker programs enhance, the future of OPT has become uncertain, raising concerns for American students who rely on it for specialized options.
Initially designed as a temporary skill development programme, OPT permits foreign students on F-1 visas to work in the US for up to three years if they have a degree in a STEM field. This has been a crucial option for some American students to gain experience in the US work market.However, growing criticism suggests that the programme has evolved into a long-term immigration route, bypassing traditional pathways like the H-1B visa system.
Critics argue that the OPT program is being exploited to replace American work, with some calling it a “backdoor” into the US labor.
The US Tech Workers organization has been outspoken in its opposition to the program’s continued operation without the consent of Congress, which has severely harmed American alumni ‘ employment prospects. The group claimed on X that the OPT program is a guest worker program disguised as an intern for foreign learners. Trump should stop OPT to shield American college graduates from harsh competitors because it was created illegally like DACA.
For American students, OPT has frequently served as a jumping rock to obtaining an H-1B card, one of the most sought-after processes to work in the US. This program, especially for STEM grads, is essential for maintaining the flow of qualified workers to US companies, many of which rely heavily on foreign skills. There are issues that ending the program may significantly reduce the possibilities these students have as the OPT discussion progresses.
In 2023, the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers ( WashTech ) filed a lawsuit, arguing that OPT’s permissive employment of foreign students puts American workers at risk. The constitutional battles are still ongoing despite the lower court’s decision supporting the program’s accuracy. With some politicians advocating for its removal, the future of OPT remains in trouble.
The probable conclusion of OPT would have significant effects on US colleges as well as the economy as a whole. International kids make billions of dollars a year from their education costs and purchasing power to the US market. Universities, which greatly rely on this income, may notice a drop in attendance if OPT is eliminated, making them less attractive to potential international individuals.
