May 13, 2026

Optional Practical Training

US immigration authority and ICE claim OPT visa fraud involving thousands of foreign students: Empty offices, locked buildings and … – The Times of India

US immigration authority and ICE claim OPT visa fraud involving thousands of foreign students: Empty offices, locked buildings and … – The Times of India

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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have reported widespread fraud in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa program involving thousands of foreign students and suspected employers across the United States. Speaking at a press conference, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said investigators found empty offices, locked buildings,…

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OPT and the uneasy truth behind India’s US education boom: How America is cutting off its own talent feed – The Times of India

OPT and the uneasy truth behind India’s US education boom: How America is cutting off its own talent feed – The Times of India

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OPT is being described in Washington as a loophole, not a ladder. For Indian families, the US degree has rarely been just a degree. It is a sequence you pay for and plan around: Admission, visa, internship, graduation, and then a post-study runway long enough to recover costs, build a résumé, and attempt the H-1B…

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International students in the US and the India story: What the numbers say | – The Times of India

International students in the US and the India story: What the numbers say | – The Times of India

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International studens in US: Changing pattern The Open Doors 2025 Report reads at first like a victory lap for the American dream. In 2024–25, US colleges and universities hosted 1,177,766 international students, up roughly 4.5% from 1,126,690 in 2023–24, lifting their share to 6% of the total U.S. higher-education population. Behind those numbers are families…

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Despite visa troubles, Indian students on US campuses up 10%; largest international group in 2024-25 | India News – The Times of India

Despite visa troubles, Indian students on US campuses up 10%; largest international group in 2024-25 | India News – The Times of India

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MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: India remained the largest source of international students in the US in 2024-25, with 3,63,019 students registered on American campuses – a 10% rise over last year. The increase is slower than 2023-24’s dizzying 23% jump.Tougher visa scrutiny, longer appointment queues and jitters over work-visa routes have done little to dent India’s presence…

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OPT participation falls from 95% to 78% as Indian STEM students turn away from US: Here is why – The Times of India

OPT participation falls from 95% to 78% as Indian STEM students turn away from US: Here is why – The Times of India

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OPT participation falls from 95% to 78% as Indian STEM students turn away from US Indian students, once the largest group participating in US STEM graduate programs, are increasingly choosing not to stay after completing their degrees. A recent report from the OPT Observatory shows a steep drop in the number of Indian students remaining…

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What makes California, New York, and Texas the most attractive student destinations in the US – The Times of India

What makes California, New York, and Texas the most attractive student destinations in the US – The Times of India

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California, New York, and Texas are among the most attractive student destinations in the US. The United States continues to dominate the global education market, attracting 1.58 million international students in 2024, according to a recent analysis by Boundless, an immigration-focused platform that provides data-driven insights on international student trends, visa policies, and employment opportunities….

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Trump deals a new immigration blow to international students: Here’s why US universities could lose thousands – The Times of India

Trump deals a new immigration blow to international students: Here’s why US universities could lose thousands – The Times of India

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The Trump administration has proposed a new immigration rule that would impose fixed admission periods for international students in the US, signalling a major shift in policy. This regulation would replace the current “duration of status” system, which allows students to remain in the country as long as they are actively pursuing their academic programmes.Educators…

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F-1 visa denied at the counter, shares Redditor: How the ‘intent to return’ test is crushing Indian students’ American dreams – Times of India

F-1 visa denied at the counter, shares Redditor: How the ‘intent to return’ test is crushing Indian students’ American dreams – Times of India

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The American dream of studying at a top university is slipping away for many Indian students. Between March and May 2025, the US issued only 9,906 F-1 visas to Indian applicants, a steep 27% decline from the 13,478 granted in the same period last year, suggests data from the US State Department. Even compared to…

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OPT crisis threatens Indian students’ careers in the US: 7 tips to safeguard your future in Silicon Valley – Times of India

OPT crisis threatens Indian students’ careers in the US: 7 tips to safeguard your future in Silicon Valley – Times of India

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As uncertainty looms over the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme in the United States, thousands of Indian students already studying and working there find themselves staring at an unsettling future. With the US administration weighing changes to F-1 visa rules and tightening compliance checks, the OPT, a crucial pathway that allows international students to gain…

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