The legislation, Keep Innovators in America Act, intends to codify the “economically essential” OPT program in United States migration law and maintain US-trained skill, introduced to Congress on March 19.
“We have a choice: inform the very best and brightest students in the United States to assist America prosper, or send them home to China, India and other competitors to introduce business to compete versus us,” stated democratic congressman Sam Liccardo.
“Just by cultivating the know-how grown here can we keep the US competitive, so I’m happy to deal with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to sustain the OPT program for several years into the future,” Liccardo continued, proposing the expense alongside democratic policymaker Raja Krishnamoorthi and Republican Politician Jay Obernolte.
If passed, the bill would allow international trainees to preserve F-1 status while taking part in OPT and permit international students with pending or authorized green card applications to keep trainee status.
It would charge DHS to set the conditions for the post-study work program while needing work to be related to the student’s discipline.
Obernolte stated codifying OPT would offer “needed clarity and accountability” for the program which enables international trainees to acquire work experience in the United States for 12 months post-graduation, with STEM graduates enabled an extra 24-month extension.
“This legislation guarantees that we can keep leading skill in important fields on a temporary basis while strengthening American development and maintaining strong oversight and respect for our migration laws,” he added.
We have an option: educate the very best and brightest students in the United States to assist America be successful, or send them home to China, India and other rivals
Sam Liccardo, US Congressman
Amidst heightened migration restrictions in the US the program has come under examination from the Trump administration, which has actually signified OPT’s prospective removal and recently released a re-review of the program.
Sector stakeholders are urging representatives to cosponsor the proposed legislation, echoing the congressmen’s warnings of worldwide talent turning away from the US if the workstream is removed.
They highlighted the program’s main function in bring in international students to the US, helping to fill labour lacks in high-demand fields and sustaining development across small companies, start-ups and research institutions across the country.
Supporters of the program emphasise its function driving US development and the complementary job creation in STEM fields, with recent estimates from the Institute for Progress that its elimination might cause annual losses of $220bn-$440bn within the next 10 years.
According to Presidents’ Alliance deputy director of federal policy Zuzana Wootson, more than 290,000 global students pursued OPT in academic year 2024/25, lots of in STEM fields, adding to neighborhoods throughout the United States.
“It is important that we protect OPT to continue boosting the educational experience of international trainees. This will in turn reinforce regional economies, assistance employers, and contribute to the United States’ long-term worldwide competitiveness,” she said.
Uncertainty over the future of OPT has been a crucial chauffeur of falling United States visa issuance, which dropped by 36% last summer season.
Stakeholders state this pattern would likely be intensified if OPT is restricted, with a recent study revealing over half of worldwide trainees indicating they wouldn’t have enrolled in a United States organization if it wasn’t for the work stream.
< img src ="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%200%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E"/ > < img src="https://thepienews.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/submit-your-nominations.jpg"/ >