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After H-1B, the OPT program for foreign students under threat
Financial Express ^ | 10/10/2025 | Sunil Dhawan

Posted on 10/10/2025 5:37:00 AM PDT by marcusmaximus

Trump administration’s MAGA push is gaining traction before the next year’s mid-term elections in America. Two key developments regarding the H-1B visa system are already in place, making it difficult for US firms to hire foreign workers.

The introduction of a $100,000 H-1B petition fee for each foreign worker will make it more expensive for US companies, while the second proposal is to launch a wage-based selection process.

US companies are being forced to either hire the best-skilled foreign talent by offering a higher salary and the $100k petition fee or hire American workers.

After H-1B, the next focus for the Trump administration could be the Optional Practical Training program available to international students.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 students to engage in temporary employment linked to their field of study. Students may apply for up to 12 months of OPT authorization both before and after completing their academic programs. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization.

For many overseas students, the Optional Practical Training program serves as a stepping stone toward an H-1B visa. The journey of a foreign student in the U.S. includes transitioning from an F-1 visa to participating in the OPT program and eventually securing employment with a U.S. company via an H-1B visa.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the main architect of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, aims to end or greatly restrict the immigrant talent pipeline stemming from international students acquiring Optional Practical Training and H-1B status, asserting that this would benefit American citizens.

OPT program termination proposals have been floated by several top lawmakers and US administrators.

(Excerpt) Read more at financialexpress.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: deadbeat; freeploader; freeploadusmaximus; h1b; hireamerican; india; marcusgumpus; opt

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1 posted on 10/10/2025 5:37:00 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

Yea!!!


2 posted on 10/10/2025 6:27:48 AM PDT by Hattie
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To: marcusmaximus

Winning!


3 posted on 10/10/2025 6:53:13 AM PDT by bobcat62
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To: Hattie

OPT needs to end. Those jobs should go to Americans graduates.


4 posted on 10/10/2025 6:55:18 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

😭


5 posted on 10/10/2025 7:59:27 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: marcusmaximus
Please keep in mind that President Trump increased the OPT quota in his First Term.

Current data about the exact number of foreign students actually working in USA-OPT jobs is hard to find.

About 1.6 million foreign students have USA Student Visas.

About 420,000 student visas are eligible for OPT jobs.

Total students actually working an OPT job in 2025?

Please send me a link if you find the actual number.

In 2024, students from India and China held 61% of the OPT jobs.

Except for Canada, almost no students from Japan, northern Europe, Persian Gulf oil nations, or the English speaking countries, work OPT jobs in the USA.

6 posted on 10/10/2025 8:33:24 AM PDT by zeestephen (Trump Landslide? Kamala lost the election by 230,000 votes, in WI, MI, and PA.)
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To: marcusmaximus

The horror, the horror.


7 posted on 10/10/2025 8:39:12 AM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: marcusmaximus

“transitioning from an F-1 visa to participating in the OPT program”

On many occasions I have discussed immigration with immigrants. I ask them what their immigration status is and they answer “in progress”. They have lost one status and are awaiting approval of the next status. They are in limbo.

Any changes to the system should avoid these “limbo” periods.


8 posted on 10/10/2025 8:46:28 AM PDT by spintreebob
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And just like that, there were no Ukraine posts any more.

9 posted on 10/10/2025 9:22:32 AM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
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