USCIS pauses processing of one million OPT applications for international students
Updated
Updated · Inside Higher Ed · Apr 27
USCIS pauses processing of one million OPT applications for international students
7 articles · Updated · Inside Higher Ed · Apr 27
The ongoing pause affects about one million work authorization applications from students in 40 travel ban countries, with no guidance or timeline for resumption after four months.
Applicants face financial hardship, missed job opportunities, and risk of violating visa status, prompting at least 30 lawsuits and four court injunctions requiring USCIS to process specific cases.
Experts fear the freeze signals broader efforts to end OPT, while students and faculty impacted by the pause experience career disruptions, psychological stress, and uncertainty about their future in the US.
Could the 'Keep Innovators in America Act' end the uncertainty for future international students?
What specific security threats prompted this sudden freeze on student work permits?
Does data show OPT hurts US workers, or does it actually fill critical labor shortages?
How does this freeze impact America's long-term reputation as a hub for global education?
How are US tech firms and universities responding to losing top international talent?
With billions in fees collected, why are immigration services not being rendered or refunded?