ICE Flags 10,000 Foreign Students in STEM OPT Visa Misuse Probe
ICE flags 10,000 students for OPT visa misuse in 2026, targeting shell companies and status violations. Affected F-1…
Homeland Security Proposes Fixed Visa Terms, Threatening Optional Practical Training
DHS proposes replacing 'duration of status' with fixed stay limits for F, J, and I visas in 2026,…
USCIS Runs Beneficiary-Centric H-1B Lottery, Cutting Duplicates as Demand Persists
USCIS adopts a beneficiary-centric H-1B lottery for 2026, reducing duplicate registrations and focusing on case quality over registration…
Initial OPT Guidelines: Self-Employment and the 90-Day Unemployment Limit
Learn how F-1 students can use self-employment and consulting to maintain OPT status and stay within the 90-day…
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…
Indian Tech Workers Face Harsh Reality After H-1B Layoffs
Over 114,000 tech layoffs in 2026 force Indian H-1B holders into a 60-day race for status, fueling a…
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…
Return-to-Office Mandates Create Compliance Risks for H-1B Visa Workers
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…
H-1B Cap-Gap Now Runs Through April 1 Under H-1B Modernization Final Rule
USCIS to notify H-1B lottery winners by March 31, 2026. New rules extend student cap-gap to April 2027…