Stay #1 in attracting international students– or lose our competitive edge.
A Collective Campaign to Protect OPT: Oppose DHS’s latest proposal of $70K+ in unauthorized fees that will only increase costs and reduce opportunities for Americans
The longstanding Optional Practical Training (OPT) program is essential for attracting and retaining international students, supporting U.S. innovation, and strengthening our national security. The Department of Homeland Security's proposal to alter this policy by imposing new authorized taxes poses a serious threat to these national interests.
Higher education institutions, economic development leaders, and advocates nationwide are uniting to protect OPT. Below are resources, actions, and tools you can use to help protect this essential policy.
Guidance for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Deadline to Submit Comments: November 9
Our Executive Committee members — NAFSA and the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration— are working with other national associations to develop coordinated guidance for HEIs preparing to comment on DHS’s proposal to tax OPT. We will update you once the guidance is available. Meanwhile, you may want to review this helpful explainer from the Institute for Progress: DHS's $100k Fee on STEM OPT Would Break High-Skilled Immigration.
Join these webinars to learn more:
Wednesday, October 21, 10 am ET hosted by NAFSA
Thursday, October 22, 2 pm ET, hosted by the Presidents' Alliance
Engaging Our Local Business Communities
Coming Soon - New Resource from Global Detroit: Share this with chambers of commerce, local employers, and business leaders to build broader awareness and support for maintaining D/S.
Understand the Issue
Visit our coalition members’ websites to explore:
A plain-language OPT Explainer from FWD.US
Join the Movement
Through our U.S. for Success Coalition, we’re bringing together higher education, business, and immigration leaders to speak with one voice: America is the #1 destination for the world’s best and brightest. Let’s keep it that way.
When international students from all parts of the globe choose the U.S. to study and contribute their talent, we all succeed.
Together, we can uphold the policies that help America lead.
