U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is no longer working to create an Optional Practical Training (OPT) compliance unit. Following an internal review of efforts to monitor the OPT program, it is determined the proposed new unit is redundant to other efforts already in place.

The announcement was made Tuesday, January 28th. Further, ICE stated the Student and Exchange Visitor Program already manages the key responsibilities originally proposed for the new OPT unit. The decision to scrap the creation of the new unit came less than two weeks after ICE proposed the unit.

The focus of the original proposed unit was to monitor graduates and employers who may have been taking advantage of the OPT program. The OPT option allows foreign students who graduate from a U.S. educational institution to stay in the US and look for work for one year after graduation. Additionally, the unit would have monitored the impact of the program on U.S. workers. Students graduating with degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are eligible to extend their work authorization for two years following graduation.

ILBSG continues to monitor ongoing proposed policy changes and provides our clients with the right advice for their specific situation. If you have questions about immigration, contact us at any time.

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