US flags 10,000 foreign students in OPT probe, fraud links raise alarm bells

U.S. immigration officials have flagged approximately 10,000 foreign students as part of an investigation into the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, raising concerns about potential fraud. The probe targets students who may have used the program to gain unauthorized employment or extend their stay in the country.

The OPT program allows international students to work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation in fields related to their studies. Critics have long argued that the program is vulnerable to abuse, with some students allegedly using it as a backdoor to remain in the country without proper oversight.

Authorities are examining cases where students may have falsified employment records or enrolled in sham companies to maintain their status. The scale of the investigation underscores growing scrutiny of the program, which has expanded rapidly in recent years.

The Department of Homeland Security has not released specific details about the flagged students or the institutions involved. However, the probe signals a potential tightening of rules governing the OPT program, which has been a key pathway for Indian and other international students to gain work experience in the U.S.