Why in News?
A bill titled The Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025 was introduced recently in the US House of Representatives.
The bill proposes ending the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which permits international students to work temporarily in the US after completing their studies.
The move comes amid concerns from some supporters of former President Donald Trump, who argue that such programs, like the H-1B visa and OPT, reduce job opportunities for American workers.
The OPT program has grown in popularity, especially among international students from STEM fields, including many from India.
What’s in Today’s Article?
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) program
- Rising Popularity of OPT Program
- Key Highlights of the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025
Optional Practical Training (OPT) program
- OPT program allows international students in the US on F-1 visas to work temporarily in a field related to their area of study.
- The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows international students to enter the United States to pursue full-time academic studies.
- Types of OPT
- Pre-Completion OPT - Students can work before completing their studies, provided they have completed at least one academic year of full-time study.
- Post-Completion OPT - Allows students to work after graduation in their field of study for up to 12 months.
- Extension for STEM Students
- Students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) can apply for a 24-month extension, enabling them to work in the US for up to three years after graduation.
Rising Popularity of OPT Program
- In the academic year 2023–24, 2.43 lakh international students (about 22% of the total 1.13 million international students in the US) were on the OPT program.
- This marks an increase from 1.99 lakh in 2022–23 and is more than double the number from a decade ago (1.06 lakh in 2013–14).
- Indian Students and OPT
- Among the 3.31 lakh Indian students in the US in 2023–24, around 29% (97,556 students) were on OPT.
- Many Indian students opt for STEM OPT extensions as a way to earn, repay student loans, and potentially transition to an H-1B visa.
- STEM Courses Drive Demand
- STEM fields are the most popular among international students:
- Mathematics and Computer Science: 2.82 lakh students (25% of total international enrollment)
- Engineering: 2.10 lakh students
- For Indian students specifically, 42.9% were enrolled in maths and computer science, making these fields the top choice and fueling the demand for STEM OPT extensions.
Key Highlights of the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025
- The Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025 seeks to eliminate the post-completion OPT program, i.e., it would apply only to international students no longer engaged in full-time study.
- It does not ban work for F-1 students who are still studying.
- Reasons Behind the Proposal
- Experts argue that the OPT program:
- Undercuts American workers, especially recent graduates and high-skilled professionals.
- Provides tax incentives to employers to hire cheaper foreign labor.
- Circumvents H-1B visa caps, creating a loophole for businesses.
- Allows employers to avoid payroll taxes like FICA and Medicare.
- Legislative Background & Political Context
- A similar bill was introduced in 2019 but did not pass. It was referred to a subcommittee and never voted on.
- The issue aligns with former President Donald Trump’s political stance, which appeals to the idea that such immigration programs disadvantage American workers.
- Business and Legal Concerns
- Many analysts state that US businesses rely heavily on foreign labor, and the bill—if passed—would likely face strong opposition from both the public and private sectors due to its dramatic departure from established norms.
