11 hours ago
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have introduced a bill to protect the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a pathway used by thousands of international students, including a large number from India, to gain work experience post their studies in the US.
amid growing uncertainty over the future of post-study employment rules.The proposed ‘Keep Innovators in America Act’, introduced by Representatives Sam Liccardo, Jay Obernolte and Raja Krishnamoorthi, seeks to formally codify the OPT program into law, giving it statutory backing for the first time. Lawmakers said the move is aimed at ensuring certainty for international students, universities and employers and preventing abrupt policy changes that could affect the US talent pipeline.
OPT currently allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the US for up to 12 months after graduation, with STEM graduates eligible for a further two-year extension, and is widely seen as a bridge to longer-term work visas such as H-1B. Supporters of the bill said retaining US-trained graduates is critical for maintaining the country’s competitiveness in technology, research and innovation.The legislation comes at a time when Indian students form the largest cohort of international students in the US.
According to the latest Open Doors survey, 3,63,019 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions in 2024-25, and participation in OPT among Indians surged to about 1,43,740 students, reflecting a sharp rise in those opting for post-study work experience.Backing the bill, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration said the effort would provide much-needed stability to international students and institutions.
In a statement, the alliance said codifying OPT would help ensure that students can “gain practical training and contribute to the US economy” and warned that uncertainty around the programme could make the country less attractive compared with other study destinations.The alliance added that international graduates play a crucial role in research, innovation and workforce development, and that protecting OPT is important not only for universities but also for employers that rely on highly skilled global talent.Various organizations have backed the bill. “Ensuring that international students who study at US universities are able to stay and work after they graduate is not just common sense, it is essential to our country’s long term economic strength and global competitiveness. OPT is a vital part of that strategy, providing a bridge from classroom learning to the skilled workforce. We strongly support Congressman Liccardo’s bill to codify the program and provide certainty for students, universities, and employers and protect a proven legal immigration pathway that benefits all Americans,” said Todd Schulte, president at FWD.us.
“International students are a cornerstone of America’s innovation pipeline and a powerful driver of local economies. They bring cutting-edge knowledge from US classrooms into our workplaces, startups, hospitals, and research institutions. Programs like OPT allow employers to retain talent educated in the US at a time of persistent workforce shortages, while strengthening communities across the country.
International students contribute more than $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy and support hundreds of thousands of American jobs. By coming together across party lines, lawmakers are recognizing a simple truth: welcoming global talent is a practical investment in American innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness. We commend this bipartisan leadership and urge Congress to continue advancing policies that ensure the US remains the world’s top destination for talent, ideas, and opportunity,” said Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).The bill is expected to be closely watched by aspiring Indian students and families, as the availability of OPT is often a decisive factor in choosing the US for higher education, especially for those pursuing STEM degrees and seeking work experience after graduation.
