On May 15, 2025, immigration authorities sent termination warnings to multiple Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa holders. OPTs allow F-1 students to remain and work in the US after graduating, providing them with a path to the H-1B visa.
Students in the OPT program are granted a total of ninety days of unemployment for every twelve months they reside in the United States. For many former F-1 students, the program provides a vital lifeline that bridges the gap between graduation and full-time employment under an employment-based visa. Former students are required to report employment updates before the ninety-day deadline expires. Failure to do so results in their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records being terminated and visa status revoked. The latest round terminations come one month after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) restored the SEVIS records previously terminated. Many F-1 students were not even notified that their records were wiped out.
While OPT visa holders who missed the deadline were always subject to losing their status, they were often given some amount of leeway and rarely ever had their status revoked. F-1 students are highly encouraged to be as proactive as possible when it comes to updating their employment status under OPT. Colleges that host F-1 students on the OPT program are advised to regularly check the SEVIS database, and to immediately notify any students over the ninety-day limit.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.
