Gosar Messaging Bill Targets Key Visa Lifeline for STEM Students

Far-right legislation would offer zero transition for permit holders, mostly from India.

WASHINGTON—Far-right Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced a bill last month that has since created a lot of undue anxiety among international students. If signed into law, Gosar’s proposal would eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program—an important work permit that allows graduates to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years. In 2023, a total of 160,627 international students were authorized for Optional Practical Training program. Indian migrants would be particularly impacted, with over three hundred thousand currently enrolled in the program.

The OPT program, a lifeline for many on F-1 student visas, currently permits 12 months of work authorization, with an additional 24-month extension for those in STEM fields. The proposal comes amid a broader anti-immigration push, intensifying fears among students who rely on OPT to gain practical experience and repay hefty education loans. Indian students, who form the largest group of international students in the U.S.—over 300,000 in the 2023-24 academic year—would be particularly vulnerable.

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