Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work for one year on a student visa towards getting practical training to complement their education.

On April 2, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announced a 17-month extension to the OPT for students in qualifying STEM fields.[1][2] To be eligible for the 12-month permit, any degree in any field of studies is valid. For the 17-month OPT extension, a student must have received a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree as listed on the USCIS website.

On May 31, 2008, the Immigration Reform Law Institute filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of various organizations and individuals challenging the validity of the 17 month OPT extension. A similar lawsuit in November 2014 challenging the STEM extension was successful, with the Court giving the US government up to February 12, 2016 to formulate new rules.[3][4] The deadline was subsequently extended by three months.

On March 11, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule allowing certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees, and who meet other specified requirements, to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT, giving STEM graduates a total of 36 months of OPT. The 24-month extension will replace the 17-month STEM OPT extension previously available to STEM students (see 73 FR 18944). Eligible students may begin applying for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on May 10, 2016.[5]

There also exists a post-completion Optional Practical Training option for students on M-1 visas, but it is significantly more restrictive than that for F-1 students.[6][7] Unless otherwise specified, Optional Practical Training is understood to refer to Optional Practical Training for F-1 students.

Application and timelines for post-completion OPT

Application process

The student need not have a job offer when applying for OPT, and does not need to specify his/her job offer in the application. However, the potential employer may need to be consulted regarding the choice of future start date in order to keep the unemployment period to a minimum.

Start and end date

In addition, students need to consider the following when choosing OPT start and end dates:

Between graduation and the start date or receipt of EAD card

After the student has graduated from the degree program, the student has a grace period of 60 days for staying in the United States (regardless of whether the student applied for OPT, and regardless of whether the application was approved, rejected, or is pending). However, the student can start OPT employment only after both these conditions are satisfied:[8][9]

Thus, for instance, if a student delays the OPT application, the student may have a period when the OPT has started but the student cannot begin employment because he or she has not yet received the EAD card.

The 60-day grace period after degree completion can also be used to apply for OPT, prepare to depart from the United States, apply for a transfer to another SEVP-certified school, request a change of level to continue at the current school, or take steps to otherwise maintain legal status. However, choosing to delay the OPT application until that time runs the risk of not having the OPT approved in time (given the processing time of 3–4 months) and may result in a shorter than 12 month OPT period.

Travel while the OPT application is pending

Students are strongly advised not to travel outside the United States during the period between the completion of their degree program and the receipt of their EAD card. This is because, to regain entry into the United States, they need to have a valid I-20 and a valid EAD card. In addition, if their visa has expired, they need to have a valid I-20 and a valid EAD card to renew the visa. EAD cards are not sent to overseas addresses.[8]

Unemployment Period in OPT

Each day the student is not employed in a qualifying job is counted toward the limit on unemployment time. However, time prior to the issuance of the EAD card does not count toward the time spent unemployed. The limit is 90 days for students on post-completion OPT, including those with a cap-gap extension, except that students with a STEM OPT extension are given an additional 30 days of unemployment time for a maximum of 120 days. Students on OPT are required to report to their university every time they start or end a job. (More on eligible jobs below).

The 90-day unemployment period, combined with the 60-day grace period, together mean that one can in principle start working on OPT as late as 150 days after graduation by choosing a late start date and using the full unemployment period at the start of OPT.

For students whose OPT application is approved after their indicated OPT start date, the period between their start date and the date of approval of OPT does not count toward the OPT unemployment period. Nonetheless, the period between OPT approval and receiving the card counts toward the unemployment period (in so far as it overlaps with the OPT period).[8]

The allowance for unemployment under OPT has been vacated by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, effective February 12, 2016.

Grace period after completion of post-completion OPT

There is a grace period of 60 days after the completion of post-completion OPT. Note, however, that applications to extend OPT (using either the H-1B cap gap or the STEM extension, discussed later) need to be put in before the completion of post-completion OPT. If the student's OPT is over and the student does not have a pending OPT extension application (or the student's extended OPT is over) then the student is not allowed to work during the grace period.

Activities permitted under OPT

Jobs permitted (and required to count as employment)

Students on OPT must report their jobs to the international office at their university. Most international offices have an interface for students to report and update their job details online.

Academic activities permitted

While the student is on pre-completion OPT, the student's academic activities are unrestricted, as the student is treated just like any other student not on OPT.

While students may be able to take classes under post-completion OPT (for instance, as "graduate-students-at-large" at some universities), they cannot enroll in full-time degree programs while on OPT. If the student wishes to enroll in a degree program, he/she must cancel his/her OPT in order to enroll.[12]

Travel permitted

Students on pre-completion OPT may travel just as ordinary students on student visas. (They need to make sure they have a valid student visa and an I-20 with travel signatures at the time of re-entry).

A student who is currently on post-completion OPT may travel outside the United States. In order to return to the United States, the student needs to have the following:[8][9]

Taxation

The tax regime that applies to students under OPT depends on whether they qualify as resident aliens or nonresident aliens for tax purposes. The first five calendar years in student status (F-1) are exempt from the Substantial Presence Test used to determine eligibility for being a resident alien for tax purposes, after which approximately six months in the United States makes one a resident for tax purposes.

Students who are nonresident aliens for tax purposes while on OPT are exempt from paying Social Security and Medicare taxes.[13]

This differs from the requirement for paying Social Security and Medicare taxes while engaged in on-campus employment in student status. For the latter, resident aliens in student status are also exempt from paying Social Security and Medicare taxes (per IRC Section 3121(b)(10)), whereas for the former, only nonresident aliens (based on the substantial presence test) are exempt from the taxes.[14]

Differences between working on OPT and H-1B

Ways of extending post-completion OPT

H-1B cap gap extension

The H-1B cap gap is a specific provision for extending the OPT with very limited applicability. Specifically it applies for people who, at the end date of their OPT, satisfy the following condition: they have a pending or approved Form I-129 petition for H-1B status in the "capped" category, but the start date for the H-1B status has not yet arrived. In particular, therefore, the H-1B cap gap de facto applies only for people whose OPT end date is between April 1 and October 1 (this is because in practice almost all cap-subject H-1B applications are made in the first week of April and choose a start date around October 1).[8][15][16] Note also that the H-1B cap gap extension does not apply to workers who have applied for a H-1B visa from a cap-exempt employer (cap-exempt employers include research institutions that have acquired the relevant status; most universities and research centers have this status). Cap-exempt employers can apply year-round for H-1Bs.

The H-1B cap gap allows the worker to continue being employed under OPT until the worker is informed about his or her H-1B application status. If the application is approved, the worker must switch to H-1B status once the H-1B period begins (usually October 1). If the application is revoked or denied, the worker's work authorization is terminated immediately and the worker must stop working at once. The worker still has a 60-day grace period to leave the United States.

For students who avail of the H-1B cap gap, the total unemployment period is still 90 days (or 120 days if the cap-gap was applied for while the student was on the STEM extension).[15]

If people apply for H-1Bs while on their original OPT (i.e., not extended using the H-1B cap gap extension), and are rejected from H-1B, they may continue on OPT until the end date indicated on their OPT. If their H-1B application is authorized, they may choose to switch to H-1B on the H-1B start date and have their OPT ended. They cannot simultaneously be on OPT and H-1B.[15]

It is also possible to apply for and get a cap gap extension after one's OPT work authorization is over, during the 60-day grace period. However, in this case, one cannot continue to work. For instance, if one's OPT ends on March 15, and one applies for H-1B status on April 1 with a start date of October 1, one could apply for the cap gap extension in April and receive it, and thereby stay in the United States as a student till October 1, but without being able to either work or enroll in classes.[15][16]

STEM extension

The STEM extension is a 17-month or 24-month extension of the post-completion OPT that is specific to workers who graduated in eligible STEM fields. On March 11, 2016, changes were announced to the rules governing the STEM extension, effective May 10, 2016.[17][18][19] Both the old and the new rule are compared below.

Aspect For OPT STEM extensions prior to May 10, 2016[20][21][22] For OPT STEM extensions after May 10, 2016[17][18][19]
Duration Maximum duration of 17 months, over and above the 12-month OPT, so a maximum total OPT duration of 29 months. Maximum duration of 24 months, over and above the 12-month OPT, so a maximum total OPT duration of 36 months.
Degree rule The degree that OPT is associated be must be in a STEM field. Have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) when you submit your STEM OPT extension application.
Employer rule The current or prospective employer must be specified as part of the application, and proof of either a job or a job offer must be included. Same rule as before.
E-verify rule The employer must be enrolled in e-verify at the time of application. Same rule as before.
Rule surrounding repeat use The STEM extension can be used only once in the student's lifetime (unlike ordinary OPT, which can be used once for undergraduate work and once for graduate work). The STEM extension can be used both at the undergraduate and the graduate level but the same STEM degree cannot be used to obtain the STEM extension twice, and also the STEM extension can be applied at most once on OPT at a given level (see table below).
Earliest date of submission The application may be submitted at most 120 days prior to the end date of the OPT. It follow a similar process as the usual OPT application, but with the forms somewhat different. Same rule as before.
Change of jobs The student may change jobs while on the STEM extension, but each employer must be enrolled in e-verify. As such, the same restrictions and freedoms apply as for the ordinary post-completion OPT, with the additional restriction that all employers involved must be enrolled in e-verify. Same rule as before, but the student and new employer now also need to fill in Form I-983 again and submit to the student's DSO.
Unemployment period The total unemployment period across the entire 29 months of OPT must be at most 120 days. The total unemployment period across the entire 36 months of OPT must be at most 120 days (same rule as before).
Grace period while waiting for a response If the student applied for the STEM extension before the OPT 12-month period expired, and was employed by the listed e-verify employer at the time of expiration, the student may continue working for that employer for up to 180 days while the application is pending. Same as before.
Forms and procedure Student must request a new I-20 from the Designated School Official at the institution's international office, with approval for STEM extension, the employer's e-verify number, and a requested start date. The student must then file Form I-765 with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card). Same steps as before, but with an additional step: while requesting the new I-20, the student must also submit Form I-983 to the DSO, that the student and employer need to fill in together. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, that runs the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, may request the Form I-983 from the DSO at any time.[23][24] Section 4 of Form I-983 requires the employer to attest that the student on the STEM OPT extension will not replace a full-time or part-time temporary or permanent U.S. worker. The employer must also certify that the terms and conditions of the STEM OPT opportunity are commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers, as explained above. These are similar to the attestations made in Labor Condition Applications for H-1B workers (specifically, the non-displacement attestation that H-1B-dependent employers and willful violators need to make).[24]

The STEM extension can be combined with the cap gap in either direction: a student can apply for the STEM extension while on the cap gap (and choose not to transition to the H-1B status), and a student can apply for a cap gap extension while on the STEM extension.[15]

The table below explains the rules surrounding repeat STEM use under the new and old rules:

Undergraduate degree Graduate degree Options for OPT and STEM under old rules Options for OPT and STEM under new rules Any change?
From a US university in a STEM field From a US university in a STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree. 17-month STEM extension can be taken at most once, either for the undergraduate degree or the graduate degree. Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree,Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 24-month STEM extension can be taken separately on each of the OPTs (however, it is not possible to take two STEM extensions on the Masters OPT even if no STEM extension was taken on the undergraduate OPT). Yes, both in duration and in number of STEM extensions
From a US university in a STEM field From a US university in a non-STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree
The 17-month STEM extension can be taken only after the undergraduate degree OPT. 		Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree
The 24-month STEM extension can be taken at most once, for the OPT on either the undergraduate degree or the graduate degree, using the undergraduate STEM degree. 		Yes, in duration and in flexibility regarding when the STEM extension can be taken
From a US university in a STEM field None (or from a non-US university) Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, 17-month STEM extension Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, 24-month extension Yes, but only in duration
From a US university in a non-STEM field From a US university in a STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 17-month STEM extension for graduate degree Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 24-month STEM extension for graduate degree Yes, but only in duration
From a US university in a non-STEM field From a US university in a non-STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, no STEM extension for either Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, no STEM extension for either No
From a US university in a non-STEM field None (or from a non-US university) Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, no STEM extension Ordinary 12-month OPT for undergraduate degree, no STEM extension No
From a non-US university in a STEM field From a US university in a STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 17-month STEM extension Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 24-month STEM extension Yes, but only in duration
From a non-US university in a STEM field From a US university in a non-STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, no STEM extension Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 24-month STEM extension Yes, STEM extension now allowed
From a non-US university in a STEM field None (or from a non-US university) No OPT No OPT No
From a non-US university in a non-STEM field From a US university in a STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 17-month STEM extension Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, 24-month STEM extension Yes, but only in duration
From a non-US university in a non-STEM field From a US university in a non-STEM field Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, no STEM extension Ordinary 12-month OPT for graduate degree, no STEM extension No
From a non-US university in a non-STEM field None (or from a non-US university) No OPT No OPT No

Students already on a 17-month STEM extension as of May 10, 2016 that is not yet complete will be able to file for a 7-month extension with the USCIS on or after May 10, 2016. Those with an application pending as of May 10, 2016 will receive a Request For Evidence asking if they would like to extend to a 24-month period.[25]

Miscellanea

Multiple OPTs

A student is eligible for OPT for each level of study. Thus, for instance, a student can do OPT for his or her undergraduate degree (if done in the United States) and then again for his or her graduate degree (if done in the United States). A student can get an Associates degree, do a year of OPT, then transfer and get a Bachelors Degree, do a year of OPT, and so on, for Master's Degree's and Doctorates, as long as students are going "up the educational ladder". Forgoing OPT at the undergraduate level does not give students any extra OPT time at the graduate level (the only exception is the case of the STEM extension, which can only be used once in a person's lifetime).

A student who acquires two masters level degrees can use a total of 12 months of OPT across the two degrees. Thus, a student who, say, completes a masters program in social sciences but anticipates getting an MBA and possibly doing an OPT after that, should choose an OPT duration for after the first masters program that is short enough to give enough time for doing an OPT after the MBA.[8]

Cancellation of OPT

It is possible for students to cancel their OPT, either because they switch to another role (e.g., switch to a full-time degree program) or leave the United States.

Leaving in case of using up the unemployment period

A student on OPT who uses up the 90-day unemployment period must leave immediately. There is no grace period.[8]

The unemployment period has been vacated by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia effective February 12, 2016.

Statistics

Number of receipts, approvals, denials, and revocations by Fiscal Year

Statistics below are for the United States fiscal year, that runs October to September. For instance, Fiscal Year 2008 starts on October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. Data is from a Government Accountability Office report.[26]

Note that the counts here are of receipts, approvals, denials or revocations that happened in the Fiscal Year, regardless of when other activities surrounding that application occurred. For instance, if an application was approved in Fiscal Year 2009 and revoked in Fiscal Year 2010, the revocation would be counted in 2010 rather than 2009. Thus, the number of receipts for a given year need not equal the sum of the number of approvals and denials for that year.[26]

Fiscal Year Receipts Approvals Denials Revocations
2008 38,730 28,497 360 1
2009 87,636 90,896 2,125 71
2010 99,876 96,916 1,731 57
2011 109,895 105,357 2,226 67
2012 117,141 115,303 2,801 71
2013 128,591 123,328 3,400 77
Total 581,869 560,297 12,643 344

IIE data on number of Optional Practical Training students (total and by country)

The Institute of International Education maintains data on the number of international students as part of its Open Doors project, supported from a grant by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.[27] The data is collected through surveys of over 3,000 accredited U.S. higher education institutions, and does not rely on any privileged access to government data; in particular institutions not included in the survey (such as high schools that issue student visas, and non-accredited institutions that are SEVP-certified) may be omitted from the statistics.[28] Since the 2006-2007 academic year, these surveys have included data on usage of the Optional Practical Training program.

The data below summarizes both total OPT usage and the usage based on country of origin for the top countries of origin. More detailed data is available at the IIE website.[29]

Since the Optional Practical Training program duration is a year for most people (though the STEM extension and cap gap allow for longer OPTs under some circumstances), the number of approvals in a given year should roughly match the number of students on Optional Practical Training. However, because of various mismatches such as that between the fiscal and academic year, and between the date of approval and the start date, and the fact that the Open Doors survey does not cover all SEVP-certified institutions, the numbers may not exactly match those from the GAO table.

Year Total use of OPT Mainland China India South Korea Taiwan Canada Japan
2006-07 48,387 7,171 10,703 4,497 2,993 1,653 2,350
2007-08 56,766 7,718 10,846 4,965 3,178 1,869 2,459
2008-09 66,601 8,212 14,886 5,134 3,444 1,778 2,237
2009-10 67,804 11,003 19,657 5,862 3,569 1,969 2,068
2010-11 76,031 13,268 24,665 6,026 3,737 2,204 1,820
2011-12 85,157 18,394 26,742 5,807 3,377 2,140 1,593
2012-13 94,919 23,968 27,831 6,268 3,417 2,333 1,630
2013-14 105,997 33,401 27,696 6,639 3,540 2,568 1,458
2014-15 120,287 43,114 29,388 6,635 3,622 2,683 1,285

History

Introduction of the STEM extension

The STEM extension was announced in a memo by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on April 2, 2008, published in the Federal Register issue of Tuesday, April 8, 2008.[1] The STEM extension appears to be directly attributable to Congressional testimony by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, March 12, 2008.[30][31][32][33] Upon its announcement, it was met with criticism from people concerned about high unemployment and wage stagnation in the technology sector for US citizens.[34][35]

Immigration Reform Law Institute challenge in 2008

The OPT STEM extension announced in April 2008 was challenged in a lawsuit by the Immigration Reform Law Institute filed on May 29, 2008.[36][37] On August 5, 2008, the lawsuit was rejected by a New Jersey district court judge.[38][39][40]

Proposed changes as part of the Obama administration's November 20, 2014 immigration executive action

A November 20, 2014 memo by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson outlining proposed executive action on immigration endorsed by President Barack Obama included some suggested changes to the OPT program.[30][41] The proposals were discussed and critiqued in National Law Review.[42][43]

November 2014 challenge

In August 2015, a US federal court gave the green light to a lawsuit challenging the 17-month OPT STEM extension, filed by the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers and three IT workers who claimed that the OPT STEM extension had created unfair low-wage competition that had materially hurt them.[3][44][45] On August 12, 2015, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the 2008 OPT Regulations but stayed the order until February 12, 2016,[4] later extended to May 10, 2016,[46] to allow DHS to provide a transition. The D.C. District explicitly rejected the reasoning of the New Jersey District and Third Circuit in dismissing the earlier 2008 challenge.[4]

March 11, 2016: new OPT STEM extension rules effective May 10, 2016

The proposed rules suggested in the November 20, 2014 memo by DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson were finalized by the USCIS on March 11, 2016, to be effective May 10, 2016, just in time to address the November 2014 court challenge to the original STEM extension.[17][18][19] While the USCIS changes for the most part expanded the STEM extension, they did add a requirement that the employer attest to non-displacement of US workers, thereby addressing the concerns raised in the lawsuit challenging the STEM extension.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Federal Register, Volume 73, Number 68 (April 8, 2008)". April 2, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Questions and Answers: Extension of Optional Practical Training Program for Qualified Students". USCIS. 2012-04-25.
  3. 1 2 "Washington Alliance of Technology Workers vs United States Department of Homeland Security". United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "17 Months STEM OPT Extension revoked for F1 Visa Students". 2015-08-13.
  5. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment/stem-opt  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ↑ "Students and Employment". United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  7. ↑ "OPT (Optional Practical Training)". USA Visa Now. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "OPT (Optional Practical Training)". University of Chicago. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "F-1 Optional Practical Training". University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  10. ↑ "Is there any legal way for international students on F-1 visas to incorporate and run their own startup while maintaining the F-1 visa status?". Quora. 2013-09-10.
  11. ↑ "Post-Completion OPT". Ohio State University. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  12. ↑ "Taking Classes on OPT". University of California, Berkeley. 2013-09-10.
  13. ↑ "Foreign Student Liability for Social Security and Medicare Taxes". Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  14. ↑ "Social Security & Withholding: Must You Pay Social Security and Medicare Tax?". Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Extension of Post Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 Status for Eligible Students under the H-1B Cap-Gap Regulations". United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Cap Gap". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 "Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)". United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 "STEM OPT Rulemaking". NAFSA. March 22, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 "STEM OPT". Study in the States, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  20. ↑ "OPT STEM Extension". University of Chicago. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  21. ↑ "17-Month OPT STEM Extension". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Questions and Answers: Extension of Optional Practical Training Program for Qualified Students". United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Students and the Form I-983". Study in the States, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 "Employers and the Form I-983". Study in the States, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  25. ↑ "OPT Students Who Currently Have (or Have an Application Pending on May 10, 2016 for) a 17-Month Extension". United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Student and Exchange Visitor Program. DHS Needs to Assess Risks and Strengthen Oversight of Foreign Students with Employment Authorization" (PDF). February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Open Doors". Institute of International Education. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Open Doors FAQs". Institute of International Education. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  29. ↑ "International Students: Academic Level and Place of Origin". Institute of International Educators. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  30. 1 2 Naik, Vipul (January 19, 2015). "High-skilled hacks: the case of Optional Practical Training". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  31. ↑ Chiappari, Ted J.; Paparelli, Angelo J. "A Rare Carrot for Employers: F-1 Optional Practical Training Extended" (PDF). Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Bill Gates written transcript from today's congressional testimony". Network World. March 12, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Bill Gates Urges Congress to Foster Innovation & Immigration (video)". March 12, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  34. ↑ "DHS CIS Circumvents Congress - Extends F-1 OPT". The Economic Populist. April 12, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  35. ↑ Sanchez, Rob. "The Search for Internships Just Got Tougher". Californians for Population Stabilization. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  36. ↑ "OPT extension rule challenged in court". ImmiTips. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  37. ↑ Sukumar, Raghuram (July 17, 2008). "Federal Law Suit Challenging 29 Months OPT. Can it be Cancelled?". Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  38. ↑ New Jersey District Court (August 5, 2008). "Order and Opinion" (PDF). Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  39. ↑ "OPT 17-month Extension Court Challenge Fails". August 17, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  40. ↑ Thibodeau, Patrick (August 7, 2008). "Judge rejects student visa injunction sought by H-1B opponents. Tech workers don't have standing to fight Bush administration visa move". Computer World. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Policies Supporting U.S. High-Skilled Businesses and Workers" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. November 20, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  42. ↑ Cohen, Susan J. (November 20, 2014). "Immigration Developments for Highly Skilled Workers: Changes the Business Community Can Expect as a Result of President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration Reform". National Law Review. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  43. ↑ Cohen, Susan J.; Ramos, Cassie M. (December 3, 2014). "President Obama's Executive Immigration Reform: Shining a Spotlight on Reforming Optional Practical Training "OPT"". National Law Review. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  44. ↑ Thibodeau, Patrick (November 24, 2014). "Court OKs IT worker lawsuit over student visa work program". Computer World. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  45. ↑ Ward, Kenric (December 3, 2014). "Court ruling challenges Obama immigration action". Human Events. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Stem OPT Extension Judge Decision - Jan 23, 2016". 2016-01-23.

External links

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