US immigration authorities have made the scrutiny of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program stricter, alleging the misuse of the program by international students and employers. In the press meeting, which took place on 12 May 2026, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd M. Lyons, described OPT as a “magnet for fraud” and indicated that additional enforcement actions could be expected in the coming months.
Students on F-1 visas can work in the United States for up to 12 months after completing their graduation through the OPT program. Students who graduate in eligible STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension, allowing a total of 36 months of work authorization.
The US officials now say investigations have uncovered thousands of suspicious employment cases. Investigators have found empty office buildings, residential addresses listed as workplaces, and companies claiming to employ hundreds of students despite having little or no actual operation. According to ICE, more than 10,000 students may have been linked to suspicious employers. The authorities further claimed that some firms were connected through common managers, duplicate websites, and overseas recruitment networks.
US agencies, Homeland Security Investigations, and USCIS fraud units are carrying out site visits across the nation and increasing the monitoring efforts to tighten the oversight of international student employment programs.
These developments have created concerns among the international students, particularly Indian students, who form a large percentage of students participating in OPT. As the rules are becoming stricter and with the possibility of policy changes, the post-study work opportunities in the United States will be significantly impacted.
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