Nibeditaa SpeaksUS Universities Could Be Subject to New Scrutiny on J-1, OPT Use: What Students Need to Know
US universities could find themselves subject to increased scrutiny of their use of international workers and exchange visitors as part of the Trump administration’s review of employment-based immigration programmes, raising fresh concerns for international students and graduates.
US Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito has questioned whether universities may be using J-1 exchange visitors and Optional Practical Training (OPT) as a way to reduce costs over the hiring of American workers.
In a post on X, he questioned whether universities were saving significant amounts by employing J-1 and OPT workers and whether the programmes were being used as intended under US law, tagging the White House Fraud Task Force and suggesting that it was an issue worth investigating.
However, his remarks were not an announcement of a formal investigation to be held. Rather they show that higher education could easily become another subject of increased scrutiny by federal authorities expanding their review of employment-based immigration programmes.
Why J-1 and OPT are under the spotlight
The J-1 visa lets international participants enter the US through approved exchange programmes, including research, teaching and academic training.
OPT lets eligible F-1 international students get practical work experience related to their field of study, with eligibility for up to 12 months of OPT and an additional 24-month extension for qualifying STEM graduates.
The programmes are common among international students to gain professional experience after graduation in the US.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Department of Homeland Security has announced a new fixed-term admission system for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors set to take effect on September 15, 2026, which would replace the longstanding “duration of status” framework with fixed periods of admission and new requirements for extensions of stay.
The administration has also discussed imposing a $100,000 fee for international graduates wanting to work through OPT, although that proposal is not currently an active OPT requirement.
As part of a wider US immigration scrutiny
The latest comments come after a general Labor Department review of alleged fraud and abuse of employment-based immigration programmes, including H-1B and PERM visas.
Since the beginning of 2026, the Labor Department Inspector General’s office has expanded investigations into alleged employer abuse of visa programmes, with officials noting that numerous subpoenas were issued in the cases.
For universities, an expansion of this scrutiny would put increased attention on how they are using international students, researchers and exchange visitors.
Why Indian students are watching closely
The developments are particularly important to Indian students, who are the largest category of international students in the US. Of the 363,019 students from India who studied in the US during the 2024-25 academic year, according to the Open Doors 2025 report.
For many Indian graduates, OPT is an important bridge between completing a US degree and getting professional experience, including potentially moving towards an H-1B visa.
Any future changes to OPT, university employment practices or enforcement could therefore have a significant impact on international graduates.
For now, no new restrictions have been announced because of the Inspector General’s comments. Students should differentiate between proposals, warnings and formally implemented rules and make decisions about studying, employment or immigration based on official US government announcements.
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