Event, News by admin Oct 05, 2023
Doors to OPT program will remain open as US Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge against this policy
The US Supreme Court has declined to review a lower court decision upholding the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows international students to work in the US aftre completing their studies. The program, which is particularly popular among Indian students, provides post-qualification work opportunities and is a major attraction for foreign students.
The US Supreme Court, on Monday refused to review a favorable decision of a lower court, which had upheld the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program as legal OPT program enables international students to work in the US for a few years, post completion of their students.
This action by the US Supreme Court, means that the decision of the lower court, passed last October, stands.
The anxiety among international students, a significant number of whom are Indians, is finally quelled.
The OPT program is the only post-qualification work opportunity available to international students in the US and is a major pull-factor for attracting foreign students. As per the Open Doors Report, for the year 2021-22, the number of Indian students in the US was 1.99 lakh. Further, 68,188 Indian students were engaged in OPT programs.
This program enables international students to acquire post-graduate work experience in the US, for a year post completion of their studies. Students hailing from the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mahematics) field of study get an additional extended tenure of two years. In other words, for STEM students, the OPT program period is three years.
The Washington Alliance of Technology Workers Union (Wash Tech) had challenged a specific OPt rule (the 24 month extension rule for STEM student that was introduces in 2016) before the US Court of Appeals.
The association had stated that it was much beyond the scope of the F-1 visa class, which is issued to international academic students. When it lost in appeal, Wash Tech approached the US Supreme Court, but its request for review of the lower court's decision was turned down.
Todd Schulte, President of FWD. us, stated, "The announcement from the Supreme Court is great news for tens of thousands of international students seeking to contribute their talents to the US as well as for the future of our nation as a global innovation powerhouse."
FWD.us is a bipartisan political organization, whose founder include Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Reid Hoffman and many others. Earlier nearly 60 prominent US companies including Apple, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, Linkedin filed an amicus brief in support of the OPT program.
"The OPT program is more than a lifeline for international graduates; it is a lifeline for the US itself. By allowing US educated scientists, researchers, and engineers to gain hands-on experience in their fields of study, OPT fuels our economy, strengthens our global competitiveness, and bolsters our national security. This victory would not have been possible without the unwavering support from numerous companies, trade associations and orgranisations who recognise the invaluable role that this program is playing in shaping the future of our nation," added Schulte.
Source:timesofindia
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