U.S. lawmakers have proposed a bill that could end the work permits currently available to international students on F-1 visas, allowing them to work temporarily under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program during or after their studies.
Under the proposed ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025,’ the OPT program would be terminated unless explicitly authorized by Congress. This move comes as a response to claims that OPT has become a loophole allowing foreign workers to bypass the more controlled H-1B visa system and take jobs that could otherwise go to American workers.
The OPT program has seen a dramatic rise over the past decade. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of foreign graduates participating in OPT grew by 400% between 2008 and 2016, with over 1.5 million international students taking advantage of the opportunity. However, the lawmakers behind the new bill argue that OPT puts American professionals at a disadvantage by offering companies cheaper labor under the guise of student training.
Opponents of the bill warn that such a move could discourage international students, particularly those from countries like Nigeria, from pursuing higher education in the U.S. due to the reduced opportunity to gain work experience post-graduation. Rozy Efzal, founder of Invest4Edu, a U.S.-based educational consultancy, emphasized the potential impact on the U.S.’s appeal as a destination for international education. “If the bill goes through, it could dramatically change the appeal of studying in the U.S. The OPT helps students gain work experience and repay loans. Without it, the U.S might lose out to countries like Canada or Australia that offer stronger post-study work options,” Efzal said.
The proposed bill’s supporters argue that OPT undermines the U.S. workforce by incentivizing employers to hire cheaper foreign labor rather than investing in American talent. However, critics, particularly from the tech sector, fear the negative consequences this could have on the industry, which relies heavily on skilled foreign graduates. Ritesh Jain, co-founder of LaunchED Global, warned that ending OPT could significantly affect the tech industry’s innovation and global competitiveness. “Ending OPT would reduce the allure of a U.S education….It could also weaken the talent pipeline for American tech firms,” he said. Jain highlighted that many of the skilled graduates in the tech industry, particularly in fields like AI and emerging technologies, are foreign nationals who often enter the workforce through the OPT program.
In August 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its policy manual to refine the eligibility criteria for OPT, specifically focusing on STEM fields, online study, institutional transfers, and the grace period following graduation. These updates also reaffirmed the 24-month STEM OPT extension for eligible students. However, if the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act is passed, international students would no longer have the legal right to remain in the U.S. for employment after completing their studies.
The proposed bill has sparked a larger debate about the future of the U.S. as a leading destination for international students. With global competition for skilled graduates intensifying, the outcome of this proposal could significantly impact the attractiveness of the U.S. educational system and its ability to maintain its competitive edge in the global talent pool.
