(UNITED STATES) OPT is not ending in 2026. The program remains fully open for F-1 students, and STEM OPT still gives eligible graduates 24 extra months, bringing total work authorization to 36 months. That matters for hundreds of thousands of students who use OPT as the bridge from school to U.S. careers.

The biggest new development is political, not operational. Congress is not moving to end OPT. Instead, lawmakers introduced the bipartisan Keep Innovators in America Act on March 19, 2026 to codify and protect the program in statute. At the same time, DHS is reviewing OPT through rulemaking, but no change is in force.

For students, universities, and employers, the message is clear. The program continues, USCIS is still processing applications, and the real issue is possible tightening around compliance, fraud prevention, and employer oversight. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the current debate is about control, not shutdown.

OPT and STEM OPT remain active in 2026

OPT gives F-1 students 12 months of post-graduation work authorization in jobs tied to their field of study. Students may file Form I-765 up to 90 days before program end and up to 60 days after. The filing fee is $410. Standard OPT also carries a 90-day unemployment limit.

STEM OPT adds 24 months for graduates in qualifying science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The extension applies only to degrees on the DHS Designated Degree Program List. Students need an E-Verify employer and a signed training plan on Form I-983. They must report every six months, notify school officials of job changes within 10 days, and stay within 150 total unemployment days across OPT and STEM OPT.

The official USCIS OPT page is here for program rules and filing guidance. Form I-765 is available here, and Form I-983 is available here.

What the DHS review is targeting

DHS is reviewing OPT under RIN 1653-AA97, and the review was flagged in a January 9, 2026 letter. The focus is on fraud, security, worker protection, and oversight of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. That review does not end OPT today.

The agency can propose changes later through normal rulemaking. Possible ideas discussed in policy circles include narrower STEM degree definitions, shorter extensions, tighter unemployment limits, or stronger employer rules. None of those proposals is active yet.

That distinction matters. Students often hear rumors that a review means an immediate cancellation. It does not. OPT and STEM OPT continue to operate, USCIS continues to accept applications, and the Supreme Court has already declined to revive the WashTech challenge to DHS authority.

Why Congress is moving in the opposite direction

The Keep Innovators in America Act pushes in the opposite direction from an ending. Reps. Sam Liccardo, Jay Obernolte, and Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the bill to give OPT statutory protection. That would make the program harder to undo through regulation alone.

The bill reflects a simple political reality. Employers, universities, and many technology leaders see OPT as a talent pipeline, not a loophole. They argue that graduates trained in U.S. classrooms should have a fair path to apply that training here.

This fight is not abstract. In 2024, 418,781 students used OPT, and 95,384 received STEM extensions. That was a 54% surge in STEM OPT approvals. Indian nationals accounted for 48% of STEM OPT participants, with 79,331 users in 2024. Computer science and engineering remained the biggest fields.

The H-1B link still shapes OPT decisions

OPT also matters because it gives graduates time to move toward H-1B status. The H-1B visa is employer-sponsored and tied to specialty occupations. It follows a different system, including wage rules and the lottery. OPT is often the bridge that keeps students working while employers prepare that filing.

Cap-gap protections can extend status when an H-1B petition is filed on time. That is one reason many students want the full STEM OPT period. It creates room for more than one H-1B cycle, which can change a graduate’s odds of staying in the country.

There is an important difference between the two programs. OPT is training. H-1B is employment. That difference explains why DHS focuses so heavily on job relevance, supervision, and reporting in STEM OPT cases.

The people most exposed if rules tighten

Any future rule change would hit students first. Indian graduates would feel the sharpest effect because they form the largest share of STEM OPT users. Students in computer science, engineering, and data-heavy fields depend on the extra 24 months to build experience and wait for immigration options to open.

Universities would feel it next. International students pay tuition, rent apartments, buy food, and support local economies. A weaker OPT pathway would make the United States less attractive compared with Canada’s post-graduation work model and similar programs elsewhere.

Employers would also face pressure. Tech companies, biotech firms, and startups rely on OPT hires to fill entry-level roles and test talent before longer sponsorship decisions. Stronger audits and more paperwork would raise compliance costs. Firms that ignore the rules risk denials or penalties.

The broader economic stakes are large. International students generated $39 billion in 2021, and OPT sits at the center of that contribution. If the system became harder to use, schools and employers would both lose ground.

What students should watch now

Students should keep filing deadlines tight. They should confirm that their job matches their degree, check their school’s Designated School Official, and keep copies of every notice, training plan, and reporting update. STEM OPT students should make sure their employer is enrolled in E-Verify before the extension begins.

They should also watch the DHS docket for any movement on RIN 1653-AA97 and stay in touch with their university international office. Compliance is the difference between a smooth extension and a costly denial.

For many families, OPT is more than a permit. It is the first real chance for a graduate to turn a U.S. education into a career. That is why the Keep Innovators in America Act has drawn attention, and why DHS scrutiny has created anxiety. As of March 26, 2026, the program remains in place, and the rules that matter today are the ones already on the books.