The Donald Trump government has led a massive crackdown against immigration in recent months — introducing visa policy changes and enforcement measures. The POTUS had also sparked widespread alarm last week after announcing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applicants. But the curbs may continue in the coming weeks as Republican leaders urge the Department of Homeland Security to stop issuing work authorisations to student visa holders. Indians will be the primary demographic affected in both scenarios — having secured 71% of approved H-1B visas in 2024.
“DHS needs to stop issuing work authorizations to student visa holders who compete against Americans. It’s in direct violation of law and puts USA at risk of tech and corporate espionage. I sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem asking her to end work authorizations for foreign student visa holders,” Republican senator Chuck Grassley wrote on X.
Push to curtail duration of stay
Key members of the Trump administration have pushed to restrict work authorisations for foreign students — arguing that past administrations had allowed various visa holders to remain indefinitely in the country. The US Federal Register had also published a proposed rule last month to limit the duration of stay for F-1 and J-1 visa holders.
“We found a lot of cases where someone applied for a student visa, they got it and then 11 years later they’re still in that same status. At that point in time, obviously, your education would clearly be over. So just making sure, it’s a way to cut down on fraud to make sure that foreign students are actually being educated at schools and are not just staying on that status without actually being enrolled, students,” Miller had told Forbes last month.
OPT to be affected?
Any halt in work authorisation rules (if implemented) would also affect the Optional Practical Training policy that allows students to work for some time after they graduate.