The United States is a popular study destination for international students, mainly because of programs like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). These programs allow students to work temporarily in the U.S. after completing their studies.
But, now the US education system for international students may change under President Trump’s administration.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets international students on an F1 visa work in jobs related to their field of study. Under OPT, students can work for up to 12 months after graduation while STEM graduates (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) can apply for an extra 24 months, making it 36 months total.
Some believe that OPT and CPT have been misused. Jessica Vaughan, a policy expert, presented a report to Congress recommending stricter immigration rules. She argues that some schools have taken advantage of these programs, creating fake institutions that allow students to work illegally.
There is no proper oversight to ensure companies follow labor laws. These programs are now the largest guest worker programs in the U.S., with 540,000 former students working without strong regulations.
Jessica suggests more regulation of schools that issue student visas (I20 forms). She also suggested that schools with high numbers of students overstaying their visas may lose permission to enroll international students. Jessica asks for possible elimination or stricter control of OPT and CPT, as they were never officially approved by Congress.
America, according to her, needs stronger measures to prevent student visa abuse, since many F1 and M1 visa holders stay in the U.S. illegally after their visas expire. F and M visas have the highest overstay rates among all temporary immigrant categories.
Students, from 32 countries had overstay rates exceeding 20%. Brazil, China, Colombia, and India each have over 2,000 students who overstayed in the United States. In 2023, 7,000 students from India had the most overstays on student visas.
How will this impact students?
If these recommendations become law, foreign students may lose the opportunity to work in the US after graduation. There may be stricter visa requirements for international students and the process for getting a student visa (I20 form) could become more difficult. If you are an international student hoping to study or work in the United States, these changes may affect your plans. It’s critical to stay updated on the immigration policies of America.