New Bill Proposes Ending Work Program for Over 200,000 International Student Graduates
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
This bill would eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which currently allows F-1 visa holders (international students) to work in the U.S. for 1-3 years after graduating. Over 200,000 international students use OPT each year, and without it, most would be forced to leave the country shortly after finishing their degrees rather than gaining work experience in their field of study. This would be a devastating loss for students who planned their education around the opportunity to work in the U.S. afterward.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
The Trump administration's nominee for USCIS has signaled a commitment to ending the OPT program. This aligns with legislative efforts like the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act, which seeks to eliminate the work authorization that keeps international talent in the U.S.
Education stakeholders are pushing back against H.R. 2315, arguing that the likelihood of the bill passing is low despite the headlines. Critics note that OPT is a vital tool for U.S. competitiveness and that the program addresses high-skill labor shortages in STEM fields.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025
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