In a recent nomination hearing, Joseph Edlow, the president’s nominee for the position of director at US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS), stated that he wants to end post-graduation optional practical training ( OPT ) that is offered to international students. International students are eligible for a one-year OPT, which is extended by two more years for students in the STEM industry. F-1 visas are required for international students taking educational courses. When asked about the shifts he may make to the OPT program if he headed USCIS, Edlow said,” I think the way in which OPT has been handled over the past four years, with the help of some choices coming out of the DC Circuit Court, have been a real issue in terms of misuse of the law.” TOI had tracked and reported the legal issues that this program had faced. The OPT program had been challenged for the first time by the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers ( WashTech ) in 2014. The US Court of Appeals (DC Circuit ) upheld the OPT program’s accuracy and the two-year modification for STEM-OPT in October 2022 after a long-drawn war. WashTech requested a evaluation from the US Supreme Court, but it was turned down. In other words, the program remained relevant. Edlow added that he supports removing F-1 students ‘ eligibility for work authorizations after they graduate from school. According to immigration attorneys, based on his statement, it would seem that the intention is to only have a one-year OPT ( pre-completion OPT ) concurrent with studies. This assertion has sounded the alarm bell in the international student body, particularly those who want to study in the US. International students are already under pressure as a result of dramatic revokes of their Registration and/or F-I permits, yet as city authorities are issuing temporary restraining purchases in their favor. The House passed a costs to end OPT, but it is anticipated to fall flat because the figures must not be added up for it to pass in the Senate. In terms of numbers, the Indian student group in the US is important. There were 2.7 lakh Indian students in the US, with 69, 000 of them taking part in OPT programs, according to the Open Doors Report ( academic year 2022-23 ). The Presidents ‘ Alliance, a coalition of over 570 campus leaders, responded to this development by saying,” The US overall ability to recruit and retain top talent from around the world will be undermined by the aim to end post-graduation OPT.” In this state, experiential learning has long been a vital component of education. This includes options for OPT after graduation. Over 2.4 million foreign students, many of them from STEM fields, take part in OPT today. OPT improves the educational experiences of foreign students while strengthening the labor in US towns, assisting employers, and boosting our financial profitability. We urge the department of homeland security to prioritize initiatives that strengthen America’s international and local talent pipeline, boost our economy, and advance our country’s position as a global leader in terms of education and research,” she continued.
