Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Under the prior rules, an F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either before (pre-) and/or after (post-) completion of studies.
Published by Financial Express - August 20, 2026
https://www.financialexpress.com/immigration/indian-students-on-cpt-now…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
On paper, the SEVP message does not change the existing CPT rules, said immigration attorney Rajiv S. Khanna of Immigration.com, speaking to Financial Express.
Published by The Times of India - August 18, 2026
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/lawsuit-filed-challenging-trump-admins-final-rule-ending-duration-of-status-for-international-students/articleshow/133324668.cms
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by News18 - July 21, 2026
https://www.news18.com/world/students-us-united-states-f1-visa-september-15-deadline-duration-of-status-visa-rule-change-ws-el-10224222.html
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by Moneycontrol.com - July 21, 2026
https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/us-f-1-visa-rule-change-students-abroad-advised-to-return-before-september-15-article-13979140.html
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by Moneycontrol.com - July 21, 2026
https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/us-f-1-visa-rules-change-from-september-15-why-indian-students-should-return-before-deadline-article-13979790.html
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by The Times of India - July 20, 2026
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/race-back-to-us-september-15-cutoff-for-f-1-students-seeking-duration-of-status-protection/articleshow/132519018.cms
Published by Financial Express - July 20, 2026
https://www.financialexpress.com/immigration/f1-students-must-file-first-travel-after-immigration-lawyers-urgent-warning-ahead-of-sep-15-deadline/4296799/
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
For more than thirty years, an F-1 student's Form I-94 has carried two alphabets where a date should be: D/S. Duration of status. Stay as long as your program lasts, keep studying, keep your I-20 current, and the clock never runs out.
Those two alphabets are gone.
Does remote work while traveling abroad on F-1 OPT count as unemployment?
Standard PTO is not unemployment. For remote work abroad, consult your DSO. If you have no accumulated unemployment, short periods are generally low risk.
Can I switch from STEM OPT to a B-1 visa to stop my unemployment clock?
This is discouraged as it permanently terminates STEM OPT status. The government may question your intent. Consider alternative compensation or cap-exempt H-1B roles instead.