Will OPT Be Replaced? Predicting a New U.S.-Graduate Work Visa

(UNITED STATES) Optional Practical Training, better known as OPT, is still in place as of late 2025, but it sits on unsteady ground. Lawmakers have introduced bills to cut or restrict the program, a presidential proclamation has sharply raised costs for some H‑1B employers, and security concerns around certain student groups have grown. At the same time, universities, technology firms, hospitals, and research labs warn that a sudden shutdown of OPT would damage enrollment, undercut early‑career STEM hiring, and push global talent toward Canada 🇨🇦, the United Kingdom, and Australia instead of the United States 🇺🇸.

Based on current policy debates and recent actions from the White House, Congress, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the most realistic outcome is not a permanent end to student work options but a shift to a New Visa Category or redesigned pathway. The leading prediction is a “U.S.-Graduate Work Visa”, a dedicated post‑study visa for people who completed degrees in the country. Other likely paths include an expanded H‑1B cap for U.S.-educated graduates and a tighter, reformed version of OPT rather than outright termination.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, policymakers are weighing several scenarios that aim to protect American workers while still keeping the U.S. higher‑education system attractive. The timeline many observers expect is 1–3 years for major changes to the work options now linked to F‑1 student status, with longer‑term structural reforms possible over 5–10 years if pressure on both OPT and H‑1B continues.

OPT’s Current Role and Why It Is Under Fire

OPT allows international students in F‑1 status to work in the U.S. in jobs related to their field of study after graduation. While the source material does not repeat the technical details, the program is tied to employment authorization issued through Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. That form, used widely across employment categories, is filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is described on the official Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization page.

The core political criticism around OPT, reflected in bills now in Congress, is that it:
– Lets employers hire foreign graduates outside the H‑1B cap system
– Can be used to pay lower wages compared with regular U.S. workers
– Extends work permission for years without going through the more controlled H‑1B process

Some lawmakers argue that OPT “bypasses” the annual H‑1B quota and unfairly affects local job seekers. Proposals have surfaced to eliminate OPT unless Congress explicitly reauthorizes it, putting the program into a kind of recurring trial.

At the same time, the Biden administration has moved on related fronts. A presidential proclamation effective September 21, 2025, introduced a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B petitions for workers outside the United States. The stated purpose is to curb alleged program abuse and push employers to hire locally first. In May 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced more visa revocations and tighter review for certain students from China and Hong Kong, citing national security worries.

DHS has also proposed replacing “duration of status” (the flexible F‑1 end date that follows a student’s academic program and OPT) with fixed periods of stay. While that change does not directly end OPT, it could make extensions harder and create more rigid deadlines around graduation and work authorization.

Despite all this, OPT remains operational. USCIS continues to accept applications for post‑completion OPT and for STEM OPT extensions. The source material notes specific filing deadlines such as July 23, 2025 for some cohorts, showing that day‑to‑day processing still continues even under political pressure.

Key takeaway: OPT is contested but still functioning; policymakers are actively debating replacement or reform options.

The Leading Candidate: A Dedicated “U.S.-Graduate Work Visa”

Among all proposed changes, the most widely discussed option is a new “U.S.-Graduate Work Visa”. This would be a new visa category focused on people who earned their degrees at U.S. colleges and universities.

Likely features of this visa, based on current discussions and international examples:
– Eligibility limited to students who studied in the United States
– 1–3 years of post‑graduation work permission
– Potential focus on STEM fields or critical industries
– Stronger oversight on employers, unlike OPT’s relatively flexible structure

Countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia already run very similar post‑study work visas. Those systems allow graduates to stay and work for a fixed period after graduation, with conditions tied to level of study, occupation, or salary. U.S. policymakers often point to these programs as models that combine talent attraction with tighter employer controls than OPT currently requires.

The appeal of a U.S.-Graduate Work Visa is that it:
– Keeps U.S. universities competitive with Canada, the UK, and Australia
– Addresses American worker concerns by enabling wage rules or field limits
– May be easier to pass politically than keeping OPT unchanged

Under this model, post‑study work would move out of the F‑1 student framework and into a clear temporary worker category. Instead of being seen as an “extension” of study, it would be a recognized step in its own right: graduate, apply for the U.S.-Graduate Work Visa, work for a fixed period, then move on to H‑1B, another status, or departure.

Industry groups and universities favor the idea because it gives predictability. Students can enroll with the understanding that, if they finish a degree, they’ll have 1–3 years to work in the country. Employers gain early‑career staff who are easier to hire than under the H‑1B lottery, but with more structure than today’s OPT.

Expanded or Modified H‑1B for U.S.-Educated Graduates

Another path under active discussion is to keep H‑1B as the main skilled worker visa but reshape the quota and selection rules to favor people who earned degrees in the United States.

Key reform ideas include:
– A separate H‑1B cap for U.S. Master’s and PhD graduates
– Higher selection priority in the H‑1B lottery for people with U.S. degrees
– Automatic qualification for qualifying STEM graduates
– Raising total H‑1B slots from 85,000 to 150,000+

If such reforms pass, they would act as an indirect replacement for OPT. Instead of relying on F‑1 work authorization, more U.S.-educated students could move straight into H‑1B. This would address complaints that even top graduates from U.S. universities must still win a random lottery to stay and work.

However, the September 21, 2025 proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on certain H‑1B petitions complicates that picture. Higher costs could deter smaller firms and start‑ups from using H‑1B, even if slot numbers increase.

H‑1B’s attractions to lawmakers skeptical of OPT include:
– Prevailing wage requirements
– Employer attestations and public filings
– Annual limits and caps that make the program more controllable

By tying U.S.-educated graduates more tightly to H‑1B, policymakers hope to balance business needs with domestic labor priorities.

Reforming, Not Eliminating, OPT

A plausible near‑term outcome (1–3 years) is a reformed OPT, rather than a full shutdown. Under this approach, Congress or DHS would keep the general structure but tighten key rules.

Possible reforms under consideration:
– Salary requirements to prevent below‑market pay for OPT workers
– Restrict OPT to STEM fields only, excluding many non‑STEM majors
– Cut total duration from 3 years to 1–2 years
– Add stronger employer reporting so USCIS and DHS can track work sites closely
– Implement more background checks for national‑security‑sensitive fields

This approach allows lawmakers to claim they have “fixed” OPT without collapsing the international education industry. Universities keep a post‑graduation path, employers retain an early‑career pipeline (with more oversight), and critics gain stronger wage and security measures.

From a practical perspective, students under this model would still file Form I-765 with USCIS, but under stricter conditions. Processing rules, reporting requirements, and eligibility criteria might change, though the core idea—temporary work in a field related to your degree—would remain.

For general information on employment authorization, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) maintains guidance at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Industry-Specific Training Visas and “Campus Affiliate” Work Rights

Looking slightly further ahead, experts assign a medium likelihood (3–5 years) to the creation of industry‑specific training visas. These would target sectors deemed vital to national strategy, such as:
– Artificial intelligence and machine learning
– Cybersecurity
– Semiconductor research and manufacturing
– Defense and aerospace
– Healthcare
– Biotechnology

Such visas could replace STEM OPT by giving foreign graduates a path to stay and train in the U.S. only if they work in fields tied to national security or high‑value research. That would align immigration policy more closely with industrial policy and strategic competition goals.

Another discussed idea is a “Campus Affiliate Visa” or university‑controlled work authorization. Under this model, selected institutions (for example, universities, research laboratories, innovation hubs) could sponsor 1–2 years of work authorization directly, potentially bypassing USCIS.

Comparisons and potential benefits:
– Similar in supervision to medical residencies and J‑1 academic programs
– Keeps foreign talent within academic and research pipelines rather than scattering them across many employers
– Helps protect sensitive research and give schools direct control over trainee selection

Both the industry‑specific visas and Campus Affiliate Visa concepts are seen as medium‑probability options in the 3–5 year range, especially if OPT is narrowed to STEM fields or shortened first.

Possible Long-Term Shift to a Points-Based System

If pressure on both OPT and H‑1B continues, the U.S. could shift toward a points‑based immigration system in the 5–10 year timeframe. This is considered a low‑likelihood but significant long‑term scenario, modeled loosely on Canada’s merit‑based approach.

In a points‑based model, applicants would score points for factors such as:
– U.S. degrees
– STEM fields of study
– Work experience
– English proficiency
– Employer sponsorship
– Research output

Instead of relying on OPT or an annual H‑1B lottery, the government would rank applicants and invite top scorers to stay long‑term. This would represent a major structural change from current family, employer, and lottery‑based categories.

Politicians have discussed merit‑based systems for years but have not passed such a plan through Congress. Still, the ongoing debate about student work, security, and skilled migration keeps the idea on the table as a possible comprehensive reform.

Why a Complete OPT Shutdown Without Replacement Is So Unlikely

Although OPT faces strong criticism, the source material stresses that a total shutdown with no replacement is very unlikely. Reasons include:

• U.S. universities depend on international students. Without a post‑graduation work option, many students would choose Canada, the UK, or Australia, all of which offer clear post‑study visas. That would reduce tuition revenue and weaken graduate programs, especially in STEM.

• Companies rely on early‑career STEM talent. Tech firms, hospitals, semiconductor producers, and research labs use OPT and STEM OPT as stepping stones to hire specialized workers. Removing this pipeline would leave roles unfilled or move work abroad.

• National security and research leadership depend on strong pipelines. The analysis warns that without OPT or an equivalent, “national security innovation slows” and “other countries gain competitive advantage.” Policymakers focused on strategic competition recognize that the U.S. benefits from retaining top researchers and engineers, even while increasing screening.

• Policy history shows replacement after restriction. When the U.S. restricts one route, it often creates or adapts another to cover part of the lost ground. Tightening one visa has previously led to expansions or adjustments in other categories aimed at key industries or trusted institutions.

For these reasons, the analysis concludes that “a replacement system is almost guaranteed” if OPT is severely cut or ended. Potential replacements include:
– A new U.S.-Graduate Work Visa
– A reworked H‑1B system tilted toward U.S.-educated graduates
– A revised OPT that is narrower but preserved
– A combination of the above

At the same time, students and employers must monitor ongoing changes. The $100,000 H‑1B fee for some petitions, the visa revocations announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the DHS proposal to replace duration of status with fixed stays signal a move toward a more controlled, rule‑driven environment.

Current Practical Guidance and Next Steps

The working reality now is that OPT remains available, including STEM extensions, and USCIS continues to adjudicate cases under current law. Prospective applicants and stakeholders should rely on:
– School international student offices
– Official releases from USCIS and DHS
– Legal updates and professional analysis from sources such as VisaVerge.com

Final summary: If OPT ends in its current form, “something NEW will replace it.” The U.S. is unlikely to abandon international students, STEM workers, research productivity, and innovation leadership. Expect replacement policies that keep global talent coming—while adding more controls, fees, and conditions than exist under today’s OPT system.