‘Keep Innovators in America Act’: US lawmakers introduce bill to secure future of OPT for international students

United States (US) lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting a key work programme for international students, including thousands from India, amid increasing global competition for skilled talent.

Bill aims to codify OPT programme

Representatives Sam Liccardo, Jay Obernolte and Indian American Raja Krishnamoorthi unveiled the 'Keep Innovators in America Act' to codify the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme into law, providing long-term certainty for students, universities and employers.

The legislation seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to formally allow international students to undertake practical training and employment authorisation linked to their field of study, including after completing degree requirements.

For more than three decades, administrations from both parties have maintained OPT through rulemaking. Lawmakers said codifying it would prevent sudden policy changes and ensure continuity.

Lawmakers stress need to retain talent

“We have a choice: educate the best and brightest students in the US to help America succeed, or send them home to China, India, and other rivals to launch companies to compete against us,” Liccardo said, according to the official Press Release.

Obernolte said the bill would bring clarity and accountability to the programme. “Codifying the Optional Practical Training program provides needed clarity and accountability for a program that allows students to gain practical experience in their field of study,” he said. He added that retaining talent is critical at a time of increasing global competition.

Move follows concerns over possible policy changes

The move follows signals from the administration of President Donald Trump in November that the OPT programme could be eliminated, raising concerns that US-trained talent could shift to other economies.

International students continue to play a significant role in the US economy. In the 2024 to 2025 academic year, they contributed $42.9 billion, supporting businesses, research institutions and local communities, according to government data.

Bill gains support

Support for the bill comes from industry groups, universities and immigration advocates.

Jill Welch, Executive Director of the US for Success Coalition, said Congress has “an opportunity to provide clarity and stability by codifying OPT and ensuring the United States remains the world’s leading destination for global talent.”

Linda Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer of TechNet, said the bill is “a smart, bipartisan step to strengthen US innovation and competitiveness,” adding that it would provide long-term certainty for students, universities and employers.

Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us, said allowing international students to work after graduation “is not just common sense, it is essential to our country’s long term economic strength.”

Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said international students are “a cornerstone of America’s innovation pipeline and a driver of local economies,” saying that they contribute more than $40 billion annually and support hundreds of thousands of jobs, IANS reports.

Role of OPT in workforce and education

Education groups said more than 290,000 international students pursued OPT in the 2024 to 2025 academic year, many in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, helping address workforce gaps.

For India, the issue is significant as Indian students form one of the largest groups of international students in the US and rely on OPT as a pathway from education to employment.

The programme complements the H-1B visa system by allowing graduates to gain work experience before transitioning to longer-term employment pathways, especially in sectors facing talent shortages.

In recent years, global competition for skilled workers has increased, with countries such as Canada, United Kingdom and Australia expanding post-study work options to attract international students.

(with agency inputs)
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