GG News Bureau
Washington, 26th August -A fresh bill presented in the U.S. House of Representatives has raised widespread alarm among overseas students, particularly Indians, who constitute one of the largest contingents seeking higher education in America. The bill, titled H.R. 2315, aims to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program — a step which may affect hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates pursuing studies in America.
What is OPT ?
The Optional Practical Training program, which is run by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), permits international students on an F-1 visa to work in America once they finish their studies. OPT offers hands-on experience in their area of study and has traditionally been seen as a stepping stone for students looking to migrate to an H-1B work visa or find employment in the American job market.
Now, the students can work for 12 months under OPT, whereas STEM students are allowed an extension of 24 months, bringing the overall work authorization period to 36 months. This has transformed OPT into one of the most sought-after aspects of pursuing studies in the United States.
What Does the Bill Propose?
The just-introduced H.R. 2315 bill contends that the OPT program robs American students of job opportunities since firms use their flexibility to hire foreign graduates who qualify to work under OPT without the same expenses and requirements that apply to U.S. workers.
The bill is reflective of mounting domestic pressure within the U.S. to protect American jobs during an increasingly polarized debate about immigration and foreign workers. Supporters of the bill believe that eliminating OPT would guarantee jobs for American graduates first.
Why Indian Students Are Worried
Indian students, the second-largest group of international students in the U.S., depend heavily on OPT. Most of them pursue graduate-level degrees in engineering, technology, business, and healthcare — areas in which OPT has given them worthwhile experiential industry training.
If OPT is removed, students can potentially have to go back to India as soon as their degrees are done unless they manage to find another lawful way to remain, like the very competitive H-1B visa. This uncertainty leaves many wondering if the U.S. will still be a feasible education and career opportunity.
Economic and Academic Implications
Experts in higher education caution that the cancellation of OPT will hurt American universities and the economy. International students bring billions of dollars each year in tuition fees, living costs, and taxes. Without the OPT incentive, America may experience a steep decline in enrollment, particularly from nations such as India and China.
Tech industry leaders and companies have also raised alarm. They contend that foreign students educated in American universities plug skill shortages, specifically in STEM, and keep America’s innovation advantage intact.
What’s Next?
The legislation has just been proposed and goes through a long legislative process before being enacted into law. It will most probably ignite intense Congressional debates, with intense lobbying on both sides — nationalist groups clamoring for protection of American workers and universities, technology giants, and immigration activists lobbying to preserve OPT.
For the time being, Indian students and their parents are observing anxiously. The destiny of OPT will not only decide career opportunities for thousands, but it will also decide the overall attractiveness of the United States as the leading destination for international higher education.
