New Regulations For The Immigration Students In The US

There is big news coming out for the international students pursuing an Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US that from the next year they will be tightened by the new Trump Administrative norms. OPT is an after course program used by the students from outside the home country to work there for one year after completing their degree course.

Students pursuing a course in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can opt for a two-year extension to their present course providing them with a total of 3-year cumulative experience.

The decision is against the immigrated students and going in the favor of anti-immigration groups that from now onwards foreign students who opt for OPT will not be given cheap labor and can’t easily take away American jobs. The US government agenda clearly specifies, "immigration and customs enforcement will amend existing regulations and practical training options available to non-immigrant students on F and M visa".

F-visa is for those undertaking academic studies(working towards a degree) whereas M-visa is issued to vocational training students.

The date for its public amendment is estimated to be around 20 August 2020 and is expected to seek restrictions on the OPT which is available to the international students currently, Mitchell Wexler, partner at the Fragomen confirmed.

From the reports, it is not clear about the other features of this new law but it's been confirmed that the proposed regulations could impose strict laws for those opting OPT. “It is not possible to state at its juncture whether the tenure of an OPT will be curtailed”, says an education expert.

But before the law is rolled out, an open window of 60 days is created for public comments which are then reviewed by the officials and sent to the office of management and budget. This unit could take up to weeks to months for the review after which the final regulation is amended.