OPT
Optional Practical Training rules for F-1 graduates — 12-month OPT, 24-month STEM extension, application timelines, employer requirements, unemployment limits, and cap-gap provisions.
F-1 Students Risk Losing STEM OPT by Misreporting Self-Employment in SEVIS
Learn how F-1 students can use self-employment and consulting to maintain OPT status and stay within the 90-day unemployment limit during 2026.
USCIS Backlog Freezes 12,000 Students as STEM OPT Extension and OPT Adjudications Stall
International students in 2026 face OPT delays and rising fees, making immigration timing a critical factor for job…
Microsoft Layoff Forces Indian Tech Worker Home as F-1-To-H-1B Visa Path Falters
Indian tech workers are leaving the U.S. for India to escape visa instability and job insecurity following layoffs,…
House Republicans Propose 3-Year H-1B Pause and $200,000 Salary Rule in 2026
Rep. Eli Crane proposes the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, seeking a 3-year visa pause and…
Stanford Graduate Builds Six-Figure PR Firm Under F-1 and OPT Work Rules
After failing to land a full-time job, Stanford graduate Ellen Yang built Punctuation PR into a six-figure agency.…
Trump Administration Intensifies Surprise Site Checks on 100,000 OPT Students
The Trump administration expands OPT oversight with unannounced residence visits and stricter 2026 reporting rules to protect the…
Senator Eric Schmitt Urges Homeland Security to Review Optional Practical Training Rules
U.S. lawmakers clash over the OPT program, debating whether to codify post-graduate work rights into law or terminate…
$100,000 H-1B Fee Fails to Cut Visa Numbers, Analyst John Miano Says
The $100,000 H-1B fee targets overseas hires, shifting demand toward domestic candidates while keeping the annual 85,000 visa…
Jpmorgan Orders Full Return to Office, Putting H-1B Visa Workers’ Status at Risk
Return-to-office mandates in 2026 create significant legal compliance challenges for H-1B and STEM OPT workers regarding worksite location…
FICA Exemption for OPT and CPT Workers: How to Claim a Refund on Tax Filing
F-1 students must file 2026 taxes by April 15, 2027. Ensure FICA tax exemptions are applied and FBAR…