Automatic Termination of Optional Practical Training for F-1 Students If They Transfer to a Different School or Begin Study at Another Educational Level
USCIS reminds F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) that transferring to another school or beginning study at another educational level (for example, beginning a master’s program after completing a bachelor’s degree) automatically terminates their OPT as well as their corresponding employment authorization document (EAD).
USCIS Issues Changes to Off-Site Placement of STEM OPT F-1 Visa Holders
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently made subtle changes to its eligibility definitions for companies seeking to employ STEM OPT F-1 visa holders. The subtle changes have major implications for employers, including staffing companies and companies that place employees off-site.
Changes to Rules Governing F-1 STEM OPT Employment
USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) recently discreetly revised its STEM OPT program, resulting in a significant change.
USCIS Introduces Onsite Training Restriction on Staffing Agencies Hiring OPT STEM Students
The 2016 STEM regulations made it more difficult for staffing agencies and consulting companies to sponsor graduating F-1 OPT employees for the two-year STEM OPT extension.
US Policy: STEM students under OPT extension cannot work at client sites
Several international STEM students hoping to work in the United States for a longer duration, post their studies,
Determining whether a bona-fide employer-employee relationship exists under the new STEM OPT regulations
The Department of Homeland Security's new 24 month STEM OPT rule went into effect on May 10, 2016. Employers and F-1 students should be aware of the major changes to the STEM OPT program. In particular, some employers may no longer be able to hire F-1 STEM OPT students.
New Portal for F-1 International Students and an Update on Potential Changes to OPT Rules
International students studying in the U.S. (typically in F-1 nonimmigrant status) must comply with many federal regulations while studying and working in the U.S. Much of their information is coordinated through their school’s designated school official (“DSO”), who reports the F-1 student’s information using the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) database called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (“SEVIS”), which stores and reports information about the F-1 student’s immigration status.
Why some international students at Penn opt for STEM majors to keep their visas
​Throughout the first half of fall semester, many students flock to On-Campus Recruitment tables, flooding recruitment officers with endless questions on job descriptions, pay, and benefits
Visa Mill Terminated, but OPT Subsidies to Hire Aliens Persist for Years
One of the generally unknown elements of the OPT program, which gives employers federal subsidies for hiring alien college grads rather than citizen grads, is that these subsidies can linger for years even after the educational institution that created them has been terminated for malpractice of education.
OPT Cap Gap Ends September 30th! What if your H-1B Petition is Still Pending?
The automatic cap-gap extension of OPT was implemented by USCIS in order to assist foreign students who have been sponsored for an H-1B visa.