Archive · 20 Sep 2025
OPT Program: Tech's Bypass for Foreign Workers Amid Visa Fee
The U.S. government now requires companies to pay a $100,000 fee to hire foreign workers with H-1B visas.
Tech companies, like Google and Microsoft, may use the OPT program, which lets foreign students work in the U.S. after school, to hire foreign workers without this fee.
Critics say this allows tech companies to bypass the new rules and may hurt American workers by suppressing wages.
The OPT program has become a key way for tech companies to find skilled workers in fields like computer science.
Some argue the OPT program is a loophole.
The number of foreign STEM workers increased greatly from 2000-2019.
A $100,000 annual fee is imposed on foreign workers seeking entry into the U.S.
OPT allows international students to work for up to three years after graduation.
Tech giants increasingly rely on OPT to maintain their foreign workforce.
The post highlights that OPT bypasses the H-1B lottery.
Critics say OPT undercuts American workers in tech fields.
- Who
- U.S. tech companies
- What
- Are utilizing the OPT program to employ foreign workers
- When
- Ongoing
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To secure foreign talent and potentially reduce labor costs.
Critics of OPT
No explicit side given
Impact on American Workers
Critics of OPT
OPT allows companies to bypass H-1B, potentially depressing wages and displacing American workers.
No explicit side given
N/A
- H-1B Visa Fee
- $100,000 annually
- OPT Program
- Allows foreign students to work in the U.S. post-graduation
- Impact
- Potentially bypasses H-1B rules
- Main Areas Affected
- STEM fields (Software Engineering, Data Science)
- Criticism
- OPT may suppress wages for American workers
- Key Companies
- Google, Microsoft, Amazon
