No H-1B, No OPT: F-1 Students Forced to Leave US

An international student on an F-1 visa recently shared concerns on Reddit about a growing issue. Many international students are now being forced to return home. The main reason is the lack of job opportunities after graduation.

The rising cost of living in the US has made survival harder for students. The one year OPT programme no longer ensures employment or stable income. Without job security, many find it difficult to continue staying in the country.

Students from universities with large international intakes report a worrying trend. Nearly half of the graduating international students are unable to secure jobs. As a result, they are left with no option but to return to their home countries.

Finding employers willing to sponsor an H-1B visa has become more challenging. Many students struggle to convince even their OPT employers to apply for the H-1B lottery. This often leads to visa status expiring without further options.

Experts suggest that only a small percentage of students manage to secure work visas. The success rate is estimated to be as low as 9 percent. Students from non STEM fields face even greater difficulties during this process.

One major challenge is proving the link between education and job roles to the USCIS. If this connection is not accepted, SEVIS records are marked as completed. This effectively ends the student’s legal stay in the US.

Alternative routes like Day 1 CPT programmes and EB-5 investor schemes are available. However, these options are also becoming increasingly difficult to access. The process is often complex and uncertain for most applicants.

Due to these challenges, many experts now advise against planning a career in the US. Limited job prospects and visa hurdles have made the path less reliable. This shift is influencing how students view overseas education choices.