Opt: ‘Huge blow to Indian students’: DHS letter shows US reviewing OPT work rules, STEM likely most affected
A letter from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dated January 9, 2026 shows the administration is formally re‑evaluating the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, a post‑study work benefit used by international students on F‑1 visas, including a large number from India. The review could affect the length of OPT and whether the programme continues to serve US labour, tax and national security interests.The OPT programme allows students with F‑1 student visas to work in the United States for up to 12 months after graduation. Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are eligible for an additional 24‑month extension of practical training. It is one of the main ways international students gain work experience after completing their degrees.DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in the letter to Senator Eric Schmitt that the department is reviewing whether the current OPT framework “appropriately serves US labour market, tax, and national security interests and remains aligned with congressional intent.” The letter noted OPT and related practical training options “were established through regulation rather than direct statutory text,” meaning DHS could change the rules through new regulations.The review comes amid hardline immigration policies under the Trump administration, which are aimed at protecting US workers. Noem wrote that a high increase in the number of foreign students in practical training programmes raised potential risks and challenges that DHS must address.There are more than 300,000 Indian students studying in the United States, and many rely on OPT and the STEM extension to gain work experience and build careers in the country. Changes to these rules could directly affect their ability to stay and work after graduating.Under DHS’s proposed review process, the department intends to reassess practical training regulations for foreign student visa holders through a rulemaking process. The review could lead to amendments to existing regulations designed to better protect American workers, address fraud and national security concerns, and improve oversight of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.Senator Schmitt previously called OPT a “work benefit” created by regulation rather than law. He said it may distort the US job market and encourage visa‑oriented enrolments without proper oversight. His advocacy led DHS to start the detailed re‑evaluation.The potential changes have made students and immigration experts question the policies. They warn that any tightening of OPT could make the United States less attractive for international students and affect the economy.
