The legislation targets the Immigration and Nationality Act, formalizing OPT’s role in linking education to employment. Long reliant on regulatory tweaks across administrations, the program now faces calls for permanence amid rising global rivalries. Proponents argue it ensures continuity, benefiting students, academia, and industry alike.

‘Imagine training the best and brightest here, only to watch them launch rival firms overseas,’ Liccardo cautioned. Obernolte added that statutory protection brings ‘clarity and accountability’ to a system letting students gain real-world experience in their disciplines.

This initiative arrives against a backdrop of uncertainty, following threats to scrap OPT that could drive talent to competitors. International students fueled $42.9 billion in economic activity last academic year, sustaining jobs and innovation hubs nationwide.

Endorsements flood in. US for Success Coalition’s Jill Welch sees it as Congress’s moment to cement America’s appeal to top talent. TechNet’s Linda Moore praised the ‘bipartisan wisdom’ offering long-term certainty. FWD.us’s Todd Schulte framed post-grad work as essential for economic resilience.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Benjamin Johnson highlighted students as innovation pillars, contributing over $40 billion yearly and millions of jobs. Education data shows 290,000+ OPT participants in 2024-2025, heavily STEM-focused, filling vital gaps.

Voices from tech, like ITI Council’s Jason Oxman, stress keeping elite students stateside for security and growth. Compete America’s Scott Corley called OPT retention crucial for economic might, security, and world-leading innovation.

India stands to gain immensely, with its students dominating US international enrollments and leaning on OPT toward H-1B opportunities in talent-starved STEM sectors. Globally, nations like Canada and Australia are poaching with expanded work visas, heightening the stakes.

By locking in OPT, lawmakers are betting on talent as America’s ultimate competitive advantage, ensuring the nation doesn’t lose its innovative spark to bolder rivals.

Data reveals that India has consistently been the primary source of international students for Canada for over a decade. However, recent reports indicate that Canada now has the highest study permit refusal rate among countries with over 1,000 approved applicants. This situation is a stark contrast to previous years and is causing concern among prospective students and educational consultants.

The Canadian government has acknowledged the increased rejection rates, stating that the issuance of study permits is within Canada’s jurisdiction. This response comes as the country implements new measures to manage temporary migration and combat student visa fraud. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in the number of study permits being issued.

Official figures show a dramatic rise in rejections for Indian applicants. In August 2025, nearly 74% of study permit applications from India were refused, a substantial increase from approximately 32% in August of the previous year. Overall, around 40% of all study permit applications faced refusal, with Chinese applicants also experiencing a significant rejection rate of 24%.

The number of Indian applicants seeking to study in Canada has also seen a sharp decline. In August 2023, the figure stood at 20,900, but by August 2025, it had dropped to just 4,515. This substantial decrease underscores the growing challenges faced by Indian students.

The tightening of visa policies coincides with ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, though the government maintains that the visa crackdown is primarily focused on immigration management and fraud prevention. In 2023, authorities identified numerous fraudulent study permit applications, many linked to fake acceptance letters originating from India. Enhanced verification systems are now in place to detect such irregularities, leading to stricter examination of all applications and an increased financial requirement for prospective students.

Recent statistics reveal a stark trend: approximately 74% of Indian study permit applications submitted in August 2025 were denied. This is a dramatic rise from the roughly 32% rejection rate observed in August 2023. For context, the overall study permit rejection rate during these same periods hovered around 40%, with Chinese applications facing a 24% refusal rate in August 2025.

The decline in applications from India is equally pronounced. From 20,900 applicants in August 2023, which constituted over a quarter of all applicants at the time, the number dropped to just 4,515 in August 2025. Despite India historically being Canada’s largest source of international students, it also recorded the highest refusal rate among countries with more than 1,000 approved applicants in August 2025.

These heightened refusal rates emerge against a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India, following accusations made by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding alleged Indian government involvement in a 2023 murder. While India has consistently denied these claims, the diplomatic tension may be a contributing factor.

Canadian immigration authorities have emphasized fraud concerns as a primary driver for the increased scrutiny. In 2023 alone, nearly 1,550 study permit applications linked to fabricated letters of acceptance were identified, with a significant portion originating from India. The country’s enhanced verification systems detected over 14,000 potentially fraudulent acceptance letters across all international applicants last year.

Furthermore, the immigration department has raised the financial prerequisites for international students and implemented more rigorous verification processes to ensure the legitimacy of applications. Educational consultants highlight the need for applicants to provide more detailed financial documentation, including proof of the source of funds, to meet the enhanced eligibility criteria. Several Canadian universities have reported a considerable decrease in Indian student enrollment, with some institutions experiencing a significant drop in recent years, partly attributed to government-imposed caps on international student visas.

The OPT program allows international graduates to gain work experience in their field for up to three years. Historically, nearly 95% of Indian STEM graduates opted for OPT extensions. However, this figure has now fallen to approximately 78%, signaling a substantial change in preference and opportunity. This decline is part of a broader 18% overall decrease in international student participation in the US since 2017.

Several factors contribute to this exodus. Increased complexity and uncertainty surrounding the H-1B visa lottery, coupled with longer and more arduous pathways to permanent residency, create significant anxiety for skilled graduates. The growing need for job sponsorships further complicates their prospects. Simultaneously, other nations like Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, and even Gulf countries are actively attracting global talent by offering more streamlined immigration processes and post-study work opportunities.

This exodus of Indian and Chinese STEM master’s graduates, who once comprised nearly 30% of all international graduates in the US, could potentially impact the nation’s technological and research infrastructure. For India, this presents a dual outcome: fewer students seeking opportunities abroad, but also a potential return of highly skilled professionals to emerging tech hubs within India or other attractive global locations.

The Indian Consulate in Houston is in contact with Pole’s family and is monitoring the investigation with local authorities. The Consulate expressed its condolences and assured that they are providing all possible support. Local authorities are investigating the case.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has also expressed his condolences and offered the family all possible assistance. BRS MLA Sudhir Reddy and former minister T. Harish Rao visited Pole’s family in Hyderabad and met them. Harish Rao expressed the immense pain the parents are experiencing, having lost the son they had built dreams around. The BRS has urged the state government to expedite the process of bringing Chandrasekhar’s remains home.

This incident in Dallas has once again raised concerns about the safety of international students working part-time jobs in the US, especially those working late-night shifts. Earlier this year, a 26-year-old student from Telangana was shot dead in Connecticut, and another person from Ranga Reddy died from gunshot wounds in the US. Last month, a 30-year-old tech professional from Mahbubnagar district died in California after being shot by the police, following an alleged knife attack on his roommate.

This initiative emerges in a context where the US, under the Trump administration, imposed a substantial USD 100,000 annual application fee for H-1B visas, impacting numerous skilled foreign workers, particularly those from India. China’s new visa policy is seen as an opportunity for South Asian talent considering the shifting landscape of opportunities in the United States.

Eligibility criteria for students are divided into two categories. Outstanding UAE high school students must achieve a minimum of 95% marks and require a recommendation from the Ministry of Education. The visa duration is 5 years, potentially extendable. For Abu Dhabi, government school students apply through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office, while private school students are selected by ADEK. Required documents include a certified Grade 12 certificate and a recommendation letter. The application process involves the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or ICP portal. University graduates from UAE-based universities are eligible if they hold a degree from the top 100 local institutions recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education. Minimum GPAs are 3.5 for A-category universities and 3.8 for B-category universities. They must have graduated within the last two years, and degree recognition from the Ministry of Education is required. The visa duration is 10 years, with applications processed through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or the ICP portal. Graduates from global universities must hold a degree from a top 100 international university recognized by the UAE, a minimum GPA of 3.5, and have graduated within the last two years. They also need an equivalency certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education. The application process involves the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or the ICP Portal. The UAE government prioritizes academic sectors aligned with national development, with recent expansions including futuristic sectors like renewable energy and space science. Priority sectors include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Epidemiology and Virology, Computer and Software Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Biotechnology, and Genetics and Molecular Engineering. Required documents include a certified degree, academic transcript with GPA proof of 3.5 or higher, a university recommendation letter, and legal translation of documents into Arabic. The UAE government evaluates universities based on global ranking systems, prioritizing applications from students in high-ranking universities and relevant fields. The program signifies a visionary initiative, offering an opportunity to contribute to the nation’s knowledge-based economy.

This new step will create additional challenges for international students, exchange workers, and foreign journalists. The proposed rule will set a fixed time limit for F visas for international students, J visas for exchange visitors, and I visas for media personnel. Currently, these visas are valid for the entire duration of the program or employment in the US.

Previously, if a student (on an F visa) went to the US to study, their visa was valid until the completion of their studies (e.g., 2 years for a 2-year course). If an exchange visitor (on a J visa) went for a cultural or research program, their visa was valid for the duration of that program. If a journalist (on an I visa) went to work in American media, their visa remained valid until their employment ended. There was no fixed time limit on the visa, instead, its validity depended on the work or program, but now a time limit will be set.

The proposed rule states that the duration for students and exchange visitors will not exceed four years. For journalists, visas, which can currently last for years, will be limited to 240 days, or 90 days in the case of individuals holding passports from China and Hong Kong. The proposal also mentions that visa holders can apply for an extension.

The administration stated that these changes are necessary for better monitoring and oversight of visa holders while they are in the US. The public will have 30 days to comment on the proposal.

According to US government data, in 2024, there were approximately 1.6 million international students on F visas in the US. The US issued visas to nearly 355,000 exchange visitors and 13,000 media personnel in fiscal year 2024, which began on October 1, 2023.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that for too long, previous administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to stay in the US almost indefinitely, creating security risks and causing harm to American citizens. This new proposed rule will eliminate this misuse by limiting the stay of some visa holders in the US.