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ICE, Jan. 13, 2021 - New SEVP Unit to Oversee Employment Compliance in the OPT Programs and Report on Impact on U.S. Workers "SEVP is announcing the development of a new unit — the OPT Employment Compliance Unit — that will be dedicated...

Alyssa Aquino, Law360, Oct. 21, 2020 (subscription) "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned Wednesday that universities could face penalties for approving international students' work placements that violate training program requirements...

ICE, Aug. 28, 2020 via NAFSA, Aug. 31, 2020 "On August 28, 2020 SEVP sent DSOs Broadcast Message 2008-03 : SEVP to Mail Notices to OPT Students Without Employer Information , informing them of its plan to mail notices to OPT students "who...

USCIS, Aug. 18, 2020 USCIS Reminds F-1 Aliens in Post-Completion OPT and Their DSOs to Enter Employer Information in SEVIS "As exceeding unemployment limits can result in a loss of status, we are reminding F-1 aliens participating in post-completion...

Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed, May 29, 2020 "Advocates for international students are raising alarm bells about a possible Trump administration plan to curtail a popular program that lets international students work in the U.S. for up to three...

Stuart Anderson, May 4, 2020 "Despite the peril facing U.S. universities and America’s difficulty in attracting international students, the Trump administration may impose new restrictions on students who want to work in the United States...

Suzanne Monyak, Law360, Mar. 10, 2020 "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in guidance released Monday that it will be “flexible” with visa rules for international students as universities close and move courses online to...

Stuart Anderson, Forbes, Dec. 3, 2019 "Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows international students to work for a time in the United States. It’s become important for attracting such students to America, particularly when new enrollment...

ICE, Sept. 27, 2019 SEVP Policy Guidance Practical Training - Determining a Direct Relationship Between Employment and a Student's Major Area of Study

Cyrus Mehta, July 8, 2019 "DHS promulgated the F-1 STEM optional practical training (OPT) benefit, with the publication of the “24-month STEM OPT Rule” that became effective on May 10, 2016. See 81 FR 13039 . This rule has been the...

Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed, June 25, 2019 "Colleges are seeing increases in processing times for international students applying for work authorization through the Optional Practical Training, or OPT, program, leaving some students with...

USCIS, Aug. 17, 2018 - "USCIS is updating the Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) page of our website to clarify the reporting responsibilities for participating in the STEM OPT program. Students and employers must...

ICE, May 18, 2018 - "Volunteer positions that are not directly related to your course of study do not qualify as optional practical training (OPT) and must not be listed as OPT employment. Reporting non-qualifying volunteer opportunities as OPT employment...

Laura D. Francis, BNA, Oct. 10, 2017 - "The “next target” of the Trump administration’s changes to the immigration system may be a work program for foreign graduates of U.S. colleges and universities, Stuart Anderson of the National...

Cora-Ann Pestaina, Apr. 30, 2018 - "Recently, without any prior notice, USCIS quietly updated its STEM OPT webpage to reflect a ban on the placement of STEM OPT workers at third-party client sites. As background, on March 11, 2016 the Department...