Gulte Movie News And Politics
The Trump administration is repeatedly making life difficult for foreign students and H-1B job seekers entering the United States by proposing harsh immigration measures. In what could another blow to foreign students, the US Department of Homeland Security proposed a massive $70,000 fee ( 67 lakhs approx ) for international graduates seeking post-study work authorization under Optional Practical Training.
Under the new proposed regulation, US universities must pay $70,000 (around ₹67.7 Lakhs) just to recommend an F-1 visa student for initial OPT work permits.
They will also need to pay another $30,000 fee (around ₹29 Lakhs) for subsequent STEM OPT extensions, bringing the total three-year cost to a shocking $100,000 or nearly ₹1 Crore.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows eligible F-1 international students to gain temporary, hands-on work experience in their field of study for up to 12 months after graduation. Most of the students utilise this scheme as an opportunity to secure permanent or contract jobs in USA and later try for H-1B Visa jobs to extend their stay there.
Trump’s officials defended this proposal to hike the fees and stated that OPT was never meant as a backdoor into American workplaces for cheap foreign labor. They argued that high financial costs will force colleges to scrutinize applicants and eliminate widespread visa fraud.
For Indian middle-class families who already spend lifetime savings on tuition fees and other expenses, this hike will be another big blow and discourages them to choose US for higher education.
Educational experts warn that colleges will pass these massive fees directly onto students or employers, which will be a big financial burden because a student cannot earn even the OPT fees if he really earns a high paying job.
The controversial proposal is currently facing a 30-day public comment window before authorities decide on final implementation. Moreover, it will also face legal hurdles for sure.
