300,000 Indian students in the lurch as US targets work visa

If the bill is passed, students will have to exit US after studies

-  STEPHEN N.R.

A proposed bill in the United States Congress is threatening to dismantle the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme - a crucial work authorisation initiative for international students.

The development has sent shockwaves through the Indian student community in the US.

With over 300,000 students potentially at risk, according to The Economic Times.

The OPT programme allows international students, especially those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, to gain hands-on work experience in the US for up to three years after graduation.

Indian students are the largest beneficiaries of OPT. The Open Doors 2024 report reveals that 97,556 Indian students participated in the programme during the 2023-2024 academic year, a 41 per cent surge from the previous year.