Proposed US Bill threatens OPT program, sparks concern among Indian students

A proposed bill in the United States Congress has triggered alarm among Indian students, as it threatens to dismantle the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program — a crucial bridge between academic study and professional work in the US. Reports state that over 300,000 international students, many of them Indian, could be impacted if the bill is passed.

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The OPT program allows students, particularly those from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) backgrounds, to stay and work in the US for up to three years after graduation. For Indian students, who are the largest beneficiaries of the scheme, the move could prove devastating. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, nearly 97,556 Indian students participated in OPT during the 2023–2024 academic year, marking a 41% rise from the previous year.

If the bill goes through, students may be forced to exit the US immediately after completing their degrees, leaving career plans in limbo and financial burdens — including significant student loans — unresolved.

The proposed changes have sparked a rush among current F-1 and M-1 visa holders to secure employment that would make them eligible for the highly competitive H-1B work visa. With only a limited number of H-1Bs issued annually, students are racing against the clock amid growing uncertainty about their future in the US.