Graduates on Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas who fail to report their employment status may face deportation, according to a new warning from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On May 16, education outlet Inside Higher Ed reported that at least 35 OPT visa holders recently received letters from ICE stating that their legal status may be terminated if employment is not reported within 15 days. Failure to comply could trigger removal proceedings.
Under President Donald Trump’s current administration, the government has canceled a large number of student visas, prompting legal challenges and backlash. The latest development suggests enforcement efforts are now expanding to include recently graduated international students on OPT status.
What OPT Rules Require — and Why Students Are at Risk
The OPT program allows international students to work in the United States for up to 12 months following graduation, with STEM majors eligible for a 24-month extension. Within the first 12 months, students are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment.
Crucially, these “unemployment days” are determined by whether employment information is recorded in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Even if a student is employed, that time is considered “unemployed” if their job details are not properly registered.
Bohyun Song, an immigration attorney, explained that until now, SEVIS records were rarely terminated automatically after the 90-day unemployment limit. “SEVIS is set to automatically end the record if no employment is reported within 90 days after OPT begins,” she said. “But if a student was hired and later fired or resigned during that period, their visa status usually wasn’t affected—unless issues arose during future visa applications.”
Song added that because OPT employment reports only require basic information, oversight was historically limited. That may now be shifting. “ICE is signaling that they are checking OPT students’ employment status in real time to verify compliance with visa conditions,” she said.
What OPT Students Should Do Now
To avoid enforcement action, Song urged OPT participants to report their employment promptly using the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) portal or through their school’s designated official. “OPT students must report their employment status on time,” she said. “Failing to do so may now result in immediate consequences.”
