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Rise in H-1B fee likely to hit OPT plan of Indian students: Experts
If H-1B visas become harder to secure, the OPT period risks being viewed as a temporary stopgap rather than a pathway to stable employment
 "H-1B Visa")
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Eligible students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT employment authorisation, which is extendable. After completing their studies, some F-1 students apply for H-1B visas to transition into skilled work roles in the US.
The Trump administration’s decision to introduce a $100,000 one-time fee on new H-1B visa applications will likely affect students who want to work in the United States (US) through the ‘Optional Practical Training’ (OPT) framework, according to industry experts.
Calling OPT a bridge between study and employment, Ritesh Jain, cofounder of visa counselling company LaunchEd, said the framework is particularly important for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students from India.
If H-1B visas become harder to secure, the OPT period would merely become a temporary stopgap rather than a pathway to stable employment.
“This adds pressure on students to
Topics : H-1B visas H-1B Visa Immigrant in US
