Explained: Why ending OPT matters more than rising H-1B fee for US tech workers

The Trump administration has introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants. The government says the move is meant to reduce the number of foreign tech workers entering the US Critics argue that the policy does not tackle the main issue: the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. OPT allows international students to work in the US after graduation. Many see this as the larger factor affecting competition for tech jobs.Under the new rules, anyone applying for an H-1B visa from outside the US must pay $100,000 annually. Current H-1B holders are not affected. F-1 students who work on OPT and later switch to H-1B are also exempt.The policy mainly targets outsourcing companies and new foreign workers, particularly from India. Large tech companies are mostly unaffected. Many of them hire through L-1 visas or from the pool of students already on OPT. The administration says the fee will favour high-wage and highly skilled workers. Critics say it will not address competition for entry- and mid-level tech jobs.The fee could increase costs for smaller firms and may change how they hire foreign talent. Some firms may reduce the number of H-1B applications or look for alternative visa programs. At the same time, companies that already hire students from OPT may continue as usual, leaving the broader competition for jobs largely unchanged.New H-1B applicants abroad are directly affected. They must pay $100,000 to enter the US on a work visa. This may reduce the number of new foreign workers coming to the country.Outsourcing firms that rely on H-1B visas may face higher costs. Some may reduce hiring or explore alternative visa programs. Others may shift operations or staffing to domestic workers.Large tech companies are mostly insulated from the fee. Many of them hire from students already on OPT or use other visa programs such as L-1. Existing H-1B visa holders are not subject to the fee. However, traveling abroad for work or personal reasons may become more expensive and complicated. This could limit their mobility and affect career planning.Responses from US tech workers have been mixed. Some support limiting foreign worker inflows. Many, however, criticize the administration for not addressing OPT. They argue that OPT drives competition for entry-level and mid-level jobs. Companies can hire international graduates through OPT without paying the H-1B fee.Tech workers point out that ending or reforming OPT would directly affect job availability for domestic graduates. They see OPT as a more significant factor than the H-1B fee. Without changes to OPT, they say, the new fee alone will not reduce competition for tech roles.Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 visa students to work in the US for a limited period after graduation. Many students, especially in STEM fields, use OPT to gain practical experience before applying for an H-1B visa.Critics argue that OPT allows international students to fill roles that could otherwise go to US graduates. This can increase competition in entry- and mid-level positions. Companies can hire international graduates without paying H-1B fees, which critics say gives them an advantage over domestic graduates.Some tech workers say that reforming or ending OPT would have a larger impact on the job market than raising H-1B fees. They see OPT as the key driver of foreign labor inflows, particularly for positions that pay moderate salaries but require technical skills.Indian students in the US can continue working on OPT. They can also later transition to H-1B visas. Students applying for H-1B from outside the US face higher costs due to the fee.Indian IT companies that rely on H-1B visas for sending employees to the US may experience uncertainty. Some may reduce hiring from abroad or explore alternative visa programs.Indian-origin professionals already on H-1B visas may face challenges with travel and visa renewals. This could limit career mobility and increase stress. For mid-level workers, these factors may make it harder to plan long-term careers or take new job opportunities abroad.The policy reflects a US focus on limiting new foreign workers in the tech sector. It does not address OPT, which critics see as the larger driver of competition. Analysts say the $100,000 fee may reduce the number of foreign workers entering the country, but it will not solve the broader issue of job competition.Companies may respond by hiring more domestic workers or offering higher salaries to attract skilled talent. Some outsourcing firms may look to other countries or visa programs. Without changes to OPT, critics say, the H-1B fee alone will not reduce competition for US tech jobs.The real test will come if Congress or the administration decides to reform OPT. Until then, the fee may only partially limit new foreign entries, leaving the overall job market dynamics largely unchanged.The $100,000 H-1B fee may reduce new entries from abroad. Indian students already in the US on OPT can continue working and later switch to H-1B. Outsourcing firms and mid-level professionals face new challenges. Critics argue that the bigger issue is OPT, which allows foreign students to fill tech jobs in entry- and mid-level positions. Comprehensive reform of both the H-1B program and OPT may be required to address competition for US tech jobs effectively.