There are a lot of debates and discussions happening over the H-1B visa situation in the US. Amidst these chaos, one less-talked-about program is becoming an important topic in the tech world, Optional Practical Training (OPT).
For years, OPT has allowed international students on F-1 visas to extend their stay in the US and gain practical experience in their field of study. But in a twist that has drawn both scrutiny and praise, this programme is now being used by some of the world’s largest companies to tap into a labour force.
What is OPT?
Under the OPT programme, international students, primarily in STEM fields, can work in the US after graduation for up to three years, depending on their field of study. What is at the heart of the controversy is the tax advantage this programme offers to employers.
Companies that hire OPT workers are able to avoid paying into federal programs like Social Security and Medicare, or at least pay less than they would for US workers. In a time when Big Tech is under increasing pressure for its role in the labour market, this loophole is turning into a flashpoint.
“It’s not like the H-1B, where we have very specific wage obligations,” said Anne Walsh, a partner at Corporate Immigration Partners to Newsweek. “That said, the workers still have to be paid fairly and be given comparable working conditions to US employees.”
While the OPT programme was created in 1992 to help students bridge the gap between education and employment, it has grown significantly over the years. In fiscal year 2024, 109,661 workers were employed under OPT, and that number continues to rise. The numbers show that some of the biggest names in the tech sector are leaning heavily on OPT.
Amazon is by far the largest employer of OPT workers, with over 10,000 on its payroll, followed by the University of California system at nearly 3,000 and Google with just under 2,500.
‘Americans are not valued in their own country’
Netizens are also stating their opinion on the same. A user noted, “These are all of the things we need to start getting people to know about this. I have worked for TCS, Cognizant and Infosys and I didn’t even think about this!! We all need to start posing this in other social media channels and have a call to action to join us here.”
Another stated,”It is unbelievable that in America as a citizen you are not more important than an immigrant. If people voted with their heads, these crooked politicians would not be elected.”
A user claimed, “Tech is the most un-American of companies. It conspires with Chinese manufacturers to destroy American small businesses. And it happily displaces American workers with H-1B and other transplants… at scale.”
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