Article Summary

A new US bill, the 'Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act,' proposes to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign graduates to work temporarily after completing their studies, with extended authorization for STEM fields. If passed, this legislation would require international students, including over 3.31 lakh Indian students in the US, to either leave the country immediately post-graduation or quickly transition to an H-1B visa. Proponents argue OPT undercuts American workers, while critics highlight the financial burden and loss of work opportunities for international students.

TNP AI: Key Insights

The proposed elimination of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program represents a significant potential shift for the US skilled immigration landscape, directly impacting hundreds of thousands of international students, particularly those in STEM fields. For these students, many of whom are from India, it would remove a crucial pathway to gain initial work experience and transition to an H-1B visa, potentially leading to immediate departure from the US and making it harder to repay substantial student loans.

While previous attempts to abolish OPT have failed, this bill reflects a broader political sentiment to reduce immigration, which could intensify its legislative journey. For employers, particularly in the tech sector, losing the OPT pipeline means diminished access to a key source of highly skilled, recent graduates, potentially exacerbating the competition for already limited H-1B visas and forcing companies to look to global talent hubs like Canada or the UK that offer more streamlined post-study work options.