News & Analysis as of

Visas OPT Foreign Students

Follow this channel for insights, news, and commentary on a wide array of visa-related matters by leading immigration lawyers and law firms. Now more than ever; stay in the know.
Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP

USCIS Updates Guidance for International Student Visa Classifications

USCIS provided updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual with regard to the F-1 and M visa classifications utilized by international students for vocational, graduate and post-graduate study at U.S. academic institutions....more

Littler

USCIS Updates Guidance for F-1 Students on OPT and STEM OPT Eligibility

Littler on

The F-1 nonimmigrant visa status allows noncitizens to study in the United States at U.S. colleges and universities. F-1 students may be eligible for off-campus employment under the following programs: Curricular Practical...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

DHS Updates STEM Designated Degree Program List for 24-Month STEM OPT Extensions

On July 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added the category of Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (03.0204) as a qualifying field of study to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. DHS did...more

Littler

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for International Students

Littler on

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated guidance in its policy manual regarding international students within F and M student classifications. This new guidance consolidates and provides greater...more

Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP

New Proposed H-1B Regulations and Stateside Visa Renewals – November 2023 Update

Significant modifications to the H-1B visa program are expected to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would “modernize the H-1B specialty...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to OPT Program for Foreign Students

The Supreme Court of the United States has declined to hear a challenge to a visa program that allows foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities to work in the United States for up to three years. The...more

Littler

New Federal Lawsuit Against DHS Alleges APA Violations, Erroneous H-1B Visa Denials

Littler on

A lawsuit filed on August 10, 2023 against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleges that the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 702, by exceeding its authority and determining that a...more

Littler

DHS Announces Updated STEM Designated Degree Program List

Littler on

On July 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) updated the STEM Designated Degree Program List by adding eight new qualifying fields of study. The Program List is generally used to determine whether a degree...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

STEM OPT Update: Additional Degree Fields Now Eligible for 24-Month Extension

On July 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added eight new qualifying fields of study to the STEM Designated Degree Program List. F-1 nonimmigrant students who complete certain programs of study in the...more

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Announces a Phase-In of Premium Processing and New Online-Filing Procedures for Certain...

USCIS has expanded premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions. Specifically, for a fee of $1,500, eligible applicants can request that USCIS adjudicate their...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Certain F-1 Students

On March 6, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced “the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science,...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

FY 2024 H-1B Lottery Registration Period Opens March 1

CDF Labor Law LLP on

Employers who recently hired F-1 foreign students and wish to continue to employ them beyond the one or three years of Optional Practical Training employment authorization should contact immigration counsel and start making a...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

Is the H-1B Visa a Viable Option for F-1 Students and Their Employers Anymore?

CDF Labor Law LLP on

An accounting firm hires a new graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from a local university for its audit team.  This new graduate is a foreign student utilizing the one-year Optional Practical Training...more

Littler

Curricular and Optional Practical Training: A Primer on Employment Opportunities for Students with an F-1 Visa

Littler on

Foreign students studying towards a degree program in the U.S. and maintaining a valid F-1 status can apply their theoretical knowledge and gain invaluable experience in their respective fields/major of study through training...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Policy Changes Aim to Expand Opportunities for Foreign STEM Graduates, Others

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Recognizing the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) graduates to the U.S. economy, the Biden Administration has made three policy changes that expand eligibility....more

Quarles & Brady LLP

White House Announces Actions to Expand Opportunities to Attract Top STEM Talent

Quarles & Brady LLP on

On January 21, 2022, the White House released a fact sheet entitled “Biden-Harris Administration Actions to Attract STEM Talent and Strengthen our Economy and Competitiveness,” announcing several immigration-related policy...more

ArentFox Schiff

Checklist for F-1 Students Transitioning to Cap-Subject H-1B Status

ArentFox Schiff on

Many F-1 OPT foreign nationals have been approved for H-1B status effective October 1st in this year’s H-1B lottery Employers and F-1 workers should be careful during the transition from F-1 to H-1B status to ensure they...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

USCIS Provides Filing Flexibility for International Student OPT Work Authorization Applications Affected by Service Delays

On February 26, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was offering additional flexibility for international students affected by the delayed issuance of receipt notices for Form I-765,...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

New USCIS Flexibility Benefits For Foreign Students With OPT Work Authorization

Last week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced changes that will be good news for foreign students seeking Optional Practical Training in areas related to their major areas of study. First, the 14...more

Dentons

September 2018 Immigration Analysis - Unlawful Presence for Students

Dentons on

Over the last week, we have been looking at various changes in policy and procedure related to immigration law. We have covered the travel ban, changes to advance parole, deference to prior determinations and denials; today,...more

Baker Donelson

Immigration Update: Student Workers in Changing Times – What Employers Need to Know

Baker Donelson on

On May 10, 2018, the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) published a Policy Memorandum offering guidance in the calculation of unlawful presence for those in student (F), vocational student (M), or exchange visitor...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Special Immigration Alert - June 2018

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Travel Ban - After many lawsuits and appeals, on June 27, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Trump administration’s September 24, 2017, travel ban of nationals from Iran,...more

Maynard Nexsen

Optional Practical Training: As this workforce grows, so does HR professionals' need to have hiring plan for the visa program

Maynard Nexsen on

Optional Practical Training (OPT) workers are becoming an indispensable part of the American workforce. Small and mid-sized companies are the largest beneficiaries, as just 4 percent of all OPTs work at the 10 largest tech...more

Carlton Fields

What will U.S. Business Immigration Look Like Under A Trump Administration?

Carlton Fields on

More than 10 days have passed since the election results were revealed, and the United States now has a businessman as its president-elect ready to take office on January 20, 2017. However, despite his business background, it...more

Miller Canfield

New Rules for Employers of F-1 STEM OPT Graduates

Miller Canfield on

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the release of a new rule governing the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Under the rule, qualifying F-1 graduates of Science, Technology, Engineering and...more

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