Washington, D.C., USA: The Trump administration has long kept its focus on immigrants who are staying in the United States without legal status. Now, attention has shifted toward students under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program.
Washington, Sept. 26 (IANS): Authorities in the U.S. have started tightening oversight of students enrolled in the OPT program, particularly those with the two-year STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) extension. Officials have begun carrying out unannounced visits to student residences and hostels to verify compliance with federal rules. While such inspections are within the law, the sudden increase in their frequency has sparked debate.
According to the Open Doors Report 2023–24, over 3.3 lakh Indian students are currently pursuing education in the United States, out of which 97,556 are part of the OPT program, with the majority in STEM-related extensions. Normally, OPT allows international graduates to work for 12 months, but STEM graduates can extend their training by an additional two years, giving them a total of three years of work experience. These extended students are now the primary focus of government monitoring.
During these checks, officials are reviewing Form I-983 training plans and other key documents. The Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is tasked with verifying whether students are receiving training in their field of study, maintaining valid F-1 visa status, and meeting all program conditions.
Some students have already reported visits. One STEM OPT participant mentioned that officers inspected his paperwork and demanded further proof of training. Another noted that searches were being carried out in several university hostels.
Florida-based immigration lawyer Ashwin Sharma confirmed that these surprise inspections are likely to expand under the Trump administration. He advised students to keep their documents updated, remain calm, and respond truthfully if approached by officials.
