Following their criticism of the H-1B visa programme, supporters of former US President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) campaign have now set their sights on the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme. This initiative, widely regarded as a stepping stone for international students aiming for H-1B visas, has become a contentious issue, particularly among those advocating for stricter immigration policies.
What is the OPT programme?
The Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme allows international students in the United States, holding F-1 visas, to gain temporary work experience related to their field of study. Managed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it provides international students with an opportunity to enhance their employability and transition to other work visas, most notably the H-1B.
Students who have completed at least one academic year of full-time study in the US are eligible to apply for OPT. The programme is divided into two types:
- Pre-completion OPT: Students may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during academic sessions and full-time during academic breaks.
- Post-completion OPT: This option allows students to work full-time for up to 12 months after completing their degree.
For students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields, a 24-month extension is available, permitting a total of three years of work authorisation. USCIS maintains a list of STEM degree programmes eligible for this extension.
To participate, students must receive a recommendation from their academic institution. Once authorised, they can work under their existing F-1 visa status for the duration of the programme.
OPT programme participation
The OPT programme is a popular choice among international students in the United States. According to the 2023-24 Open Doors report, 242,000 students, representing 27.47% of the total 883,000 international students in the US, were enrolled in OPT.
Indian students form the largest group participating in the programme. In 2023-24, 97,556 of the 331,000 Indian students in the US (29.42%) were part of the OPT programme, a marked increase from 69,062 in 2022-23 and 68,188 in 2021-22.
STEM courses remain the most popular choice among Indian students, largely due to the OPT extension. In 2023-24, approximately 42.9% of Indian students were enrolled in mathematics or computer science programmes, while 24.5% pursued engineering.
Why is the OPT programme under fire?
Critics, including MAGA supporters, argue that the OPT programme, particularly the STEM extension, undermines job opportunities for American workers. This concern has been a recurring theme among groups advocating for stricter immigration controls.
In 2023, the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech) challenged the legality of the STEM OPT extension in the US Supreme Court. However, the court declined to hear the case, thereby upholding a lower court ruling that validated the programme.
The controversy around the OPT programme stems from its expansion during the Obama administration. In 2016, the duration of the STEM OPT extension was increased from 17 months to 24 months, allowing students to stay in the US for a total of 36 months after graduation. Critics claim that this extended work authorisation period gives international students an unfair advantage in the job market.
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Supporters’ concerns
Supporters of the MAGA campaign view programmes like OPT and H-1B as contributing to wage suppression and unemployment among American workers, particularly in the technology sector. They argue that extending work authorisations for foreign students exacerbates these issues by increasing competition for high-skilled jobs.
The road ahead
Despite the criticisms, the OPT programme remains a cornerstone for international students pursuing education and career opportunities in the US. Proponents argue that it enhances the US economy by attracting global talent, particularly in STEM fields, where skilled workers are in high demand.
The legal challenges faced by the programme highlight the broader debate over immigration and job market policies in the United States. As the country continues to grapple with these issues, the OPT programme’s future remains uncertain, but its importance to international students and the higher education sector cannot be understated.
The tug-of-war between economic benefits and domestic job protection ensures that programmes like OPT will remain under scrutiny in the years to come.
