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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a letter to Senator Eric Schmitt, said DHS is reviewing whether the current framework — including the scope and duration of practical training — “appropriately serves US labor market, tax, and national security interests and remains aligned with congressional intent.”
There are over 300,000 Indian students in the US, and many of them are on OPT after completing their studies.
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OPT allows F-1 visa holders to work in the United States for up to 12 months after completing their degree. Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are eligible for an additional 24-month extension.
Addressing the legal basis of the programme, Noem noted that the Optional Practical Training programme and related training opportunities “were established through regulation rather than direct statutory text.”
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Beyond the review, DHS signaled potential regulatory action. “DHS has indicated it intends to re-evaluate practical training regulatory requirements for foreign student visa holders through a rulemaking,” Noem wrote, adding that the proposal was included in the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda.
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Schmitt, in his earlier letter to DHS and US Citizenship and Immigration Services, described OPT as a “work benefit” created by regulation rather than statute and urged the department to conduct a “thorough review” to begin the process of either reforming or ending it.
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The post US May Revamp OPT, Impacting Thousands of Indian Students appeared first on American Renaissance.
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