US to set up new unit to probe possible misuse of student work permits

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced last week that it will be setting up a new unit to check for potential abuse of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. This program allows foreign students to work in the country for 12 months after graduation, and is often used as a pathway to an H-1B non-immigrant visa.

STEM students get an additional 24 months to work in the US under the OPT program, which often allows Indian students in the US to work and live there for a longer period before applying for an H-1B visa. The department estimates that there are over 5,36,000 people participating in OPT programs, and the scale of it, in context of the recent unemployment levels in the US make it essential to bring in greater oversight.