The legislation, Keep Innovators in America Act, intends to codify the “financially vital” OPT program in US immigration law and keep US-trained talent, presented to Congress on March 19.
“We have a choice: educate the very best and brightest trainees in the US to help America be successful, or send them home to China, India and other rivals to launch business to complete versus us,” stated democratic congressman Sam Liccardo.
“Just by cultivating the know-how grown here can we keep the US competitive, so I’m happy to work with associates on both sides of the aisle to sustain the OPT program for years into the future,” Liccardo continued, proposing the costs together with democratic policymaker Raja Krishnamoorthi and Republican Jay Obernolte.
If passed, the bill would allow worldwide students to keep F-1 status while participating in OPT and allow worldwide trainees with pending or authorized green card applications to maintain student status.
It would charge DHS to set the terms for the post-study work program while requiring employment to be associated with the trainee’s discipline.
Obernolte stated codifying OPT would provide “required clearness and responsibility” for the program which enables global students to gain work experience in the US for 12 months post-graduation, with STEM graduates permitted an additional 24-month extension.
“This legislation makes sure that we can maintain top skill in important fields on a momentary basis while strengthening American development and maintaining strong oversight and regard for our immigration laws,” he added.
We have an option: educate the best and brightest students in the United States to help America prosper, or send them home to China, India and other rivals
Sam Liccardo, US Congressman
Amidst increased migration constraints in the United States the program has come under examination from the Trump administration, which has actually indicated OPT’s prospective elimination and just recently launched a re-review of the program.
Sector stakeholders are prompting representatives to cosponsor the proposed legislation, echoing the congressmen’s cautions of worldwide skill turning away from the United States if the workstream is removed.
They highlighted the program’s main role in drawing in worldwide students to the US, helping to fill labour lacks in high-demand fields and fuelling innovation across small businesses, startups and research study institutions throughout the nation.
Supporters of the program stress its role driving United States development and the complementary task production in STEM fields, with recent price quotes from the Institute for Development that its elimination might trigger annual losses of $220bn-$440bn within the next ten years.
According to Presidents’ Alliance deputy director of federal policy Zuzana Wootson, more than 290,000 global students pursued OPT in academic year 2024/25, many in STEM fields, adding to communities throughout the US.
“It is important that we secure OPT to continue enhancing the educational experience of worldwide trainees. This will in turn strengthen local economies, assistance employers, and contribute to the United States’ long-term international competitiveness,” she said.
Uncertainty over the future of OPT has been an essential driver of falling US visa issuance, which plummeted by 36% last summer season.
Stakeholders say this trend would likely be intensified if OPT is limited, with a recent study revealing more than half of worldwide trainees indicating they wouldn’t have actually registered in a United States institution if it wasn’t for the work stream.
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