(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The U.S. government is moving toward sharp limits on the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a work pathway used by most international students after graduation. Proposals under review in Washington range from tighter rules to full elimination. The biggest impact would fall on students in science and technology fields who depend on F-1 OPT and STEM-OPT to bridge into early-career jobs. University leaders warn that sudden changes could ripple across enrollment, research labs, and local economies that rely on tuition and spending by international students.
What DHS is doing now
The most direct action is taking shape inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has placed OPT on its regulatory agenda. DHS is drafting a rule that, if finalized, could curtail or end post-completion work authorization for F-1 students, including the 24-month STEM-OPT extension.
- DHS says the rule aims to “better align practical training to the goals and objectives of the program while providing more clarity to the public,” and to address “fraud and national security concerns” while protecting U.S. workers from “being displaced by foreign nationals.”
- No final order ending the program has been issued, but DHS could unveil a proposed rule as soon as late 2025 or early 2026.
Legislative pressure
Legislators are pushing in parallel to DHS rulemaking.
- In March, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 2315, the “Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act,” which seeks to abolish OPT entirely, including STEM-OPT.
- Gosar argues OPT “undercuts American workers” and lets “greedy businesses hire inexpensive foreign labour.”
- He also claims the program “circumvents the H-1B visa cap set by Congress” by allowing many students to continue working after graduation.
- Immigration attorneys caution the bill faces steep odds in the Senate, even if it clears the House.
Current status and usage
For now, the program remains intact.
- As of late 2025, the standard 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM-OPT extension are available to eligible F-1 graduates.
- Roughly 250,000 students use OPT or STEM-OPT each year, according to policy estimates cited by universities and industry groups.
- The pace of policymaking has quickened, and the tone from key lawmakers and administration aides points toward tighter rules within months rather than years.
Impact on Indian and other international students
The stakes are especially high for Indian students, now the largest international student group in the U.S.
- About 330,000 Indian students were enrolled in the 2023–24 academic year.
- 97,556 Indian students were on OPT, per recent counts shared by higher education stakeholders.
- More than 70% of Indian students study in STEM fields, meaning many rely on the three-year F-1 OPT + STEM-OPT window to gain work experience and attempt the H-1B lottery.
- Curtailing OPT could force recent graduates to depart soon after commencement and cut off the bridge to H-1B, making families question the return on large education investments.
Universities’ concerns
University leaders warn of major downstream effects if OPT is reduced or removed.
- Admissions: OPT is a major factor in international students’ decisions to choose the U.S. over Canada, the U.K., or Australia.
- Enrollment & Revenue: Reduced OPT could drive down applications from India and China and shrink tuition revenue that funds financial aid and research.
- Research & Staffing: STEM labs reliant on graduate researchers and early-career hires could face shortages.
- Smaller colleges that lean heavily on international enrollment are watching developments closely and often weekly.
Options DHS is reportedly considering
Sources familiar with the rulemaking say DHS is weighing multiple changes, including:
- Shortening OPT below 12 months
- Restricting or phasing out the 24-month STEM-OPT
- Narrowing the list of eligible majors
- Adding employer audits
- Removing cap-gap protections that let students remain work-authorized through October 1 if selected for H-1B
- Imposing new fees for work authorization
- Targeting the FICA tax exemption for OPT workers (which would raise employer costs)
Enforcement changes already visible
Enforcement has tightened even before rule changes become law.
- More site visits to confirm real work is being performed
- Closer review of STEM-OPT training plans
- Denials when job duties appear unrelated to a student’s degree
- Greater scrutiny of payroll practices tied to F-1 hires
- Warnings that public social media posts may be reviewed by consular and immigration officers
These steps do not change the written rules yet, but they signal where policy is headed.
Related DHS proposal: Duration of Status
A separate DHS proposal could shorten timeframes in another way.
- In August 2025, DHS proposed ending “Duration of Status” for F-1 and J-1 students and replacing it with fixed admission periods up to four years.
- That would require extensions through USCIS if studies run longer, adding cost and delay risk.
- Shorter admission windows would naturally shorten post-completion OPT timelines and affect when/how students can start approved employment.
Arguments on both sides
Supporters of stricter measures say OPT has deviated from its purpose.
- Some lawmakers call OPT an “unfair guest-worker program” and a backdoor around H-1B caps.
Opponents — including business and higher education coalitions — argue:
- OPT is tied to academic fields, time-limited, and designed to give graduates practical training.
- Ending or shrinking OPT/STEM-OPT would drain the talent pipeline in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences.
Political and legal dynamics
- The House could pass a bill like H.R. 2315, but Senate support is less certain; senators from both parties have historically balked at full elimination.
- The regulatory route (DHS rulemaking) is more plausible in the near term but must follow notice-and-comment procedures and could face court review.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com finds a low probability of a complete legislative shutdown of OPT; a phased set of administrative restrictions is more likely.
How students and employers are responding
People are planning around uncertainty.
Career centers recommend students:
1. File early for jobs and OPT paperwork.
2. Keep job duties tightly aligned with degree programs.
3. Document STEM-OPT training plans in detail.
Employers are:
– Weighing whether to commit to F-1 candidates if cap-gap protections or FICA exemptions are removed.
– Considering nearshore options and alternative hiring strategies.
Students are exploring alternatives:
– Canadian work permits and study routes with more predictable post-graduation work permits
– Remote roles and digital nomad visas
The link to H-1B and green cards
- If OPT is shortened, more graduates would need immediate H-1B sponsorship after commencement, even as the lottery remains oversubscribed.
- That would force tough hiring decisions and narrow the candidate pool for companies.
- A decline in OPT holders staying long enough for employer sponsorship would likely shrink green card pipelines.
How to apply now (no change yet)
Advocates remind students that, for the moment, processes remain the same.
- F-1 OPT applicants continue to apply by filing Form I-765 with USCIS.
- Official guidance for students and employers is available on the USCIS website:
Human impact and outlook
University officials stress that panic is premature.
- The last major attempt to abolish OPT in 2020 faced loud opposition and ultimately failed.
- Any DHS rule will have a public comment period and likely legal challenges before taking effect.
Still, the mood has shifted after years of OPT expansion, particularly with STEM-OPT.
Important takeaway: OPT is not abolished, but it is under the heaviest scrutiny in more than a decade. DHS could propose rules soon, and the coming months will be decisive for international students, universities, and employers.
Students report delaying leases, travel plans, and purchases while families and employers seek stability. Under the current administration, White House advisers have signaled support for a tougher approach, framing training programs so they do not displace U.S. workers or stretch beyond educational purposes. Whether Congress will back a full rollback remains uncertain.
The debate will shape who chooses to study in the United States 🇺🇸 — and who can start a career here — well beyond this academic year.
This Article in a Nutshell
DHS is preparing regulatory changes that could significantly restrict or end F-1 OPT and the 24-month STEM-OPT extension, possibly proposed by late 2025 or early 2026. About 250,000 students use OPT annually; Indian students—many in STEM—are heavily affected. Proposed measures include shortening OPT, narrowing eligible majors, employer audits, new fees, and removing cap-gap protections. Universities warn impacts on enrollment, research staffing, and local economies. For now, OPT remains available, but enforcement has tightened and stakeholders should prepare contingencies.
