Inside Higher Ed speaks to UC expert about national delays in work permits
Federal approvals for OPT work in the US after graduation have slowed, causing some international students to lose job opportunities
Inside Higher Ed interviewed Ron Cushing, director of international student services in the University of Cincinnati's international office, about a slowdown in government authorizations for Optional Practical Training, or OPT.
Federal approvals for OPT work in the United States after graduation have slowed, causing some international students to lose job opportunities
The OPT program allows international students to work in America after graduation for as long as a year (three years for STEM graduates). UC had 1,130 students in the OPT program in 2017-18.
Students must apply for the authorization within the last 90 days of their degree program, but approvals can now take up to five months, following an internal rule change by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Cushing said UC sees typical processing times of 100-120 days, which can leave students scrambling for work permits for jobs they have been offered.
Something's got to give there. If you're going to take longer to process them, let us submit earlier so these kids aren't stuck with job offers with no work permits when it comes time to start.
Ron Cushing, Director of International Services
You can read the full article here.
Tags
Related Stories
NIS program opens new horizons for international student
July 17, 2024
In his pursuit of physics and a taste for research, Akash Khanikor ventured from his hometown in India's Assam to the University of Cincinnati, drawn by the promise of hands-on exploration early in his undergraduate career as a NEXT Innovation Scholar.
UC computer science engineer works to improve AI explainability
July 12, 2024
Inspired by the desire to improve and advance the world of artificial intelligence, Nkechi Jennifer Akinwale has taken advantage of every available opportunity at the University of Cincinnati. Along with a dedication to her field, Akinwale has a deep-rooted dedication to the mentorship of young girls in STEM. She has mentored numerous undergraduate and K-12 students in various programs to share her knowledge and experience as a PhD student. Recently, she was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
UC student aims to make AI more explainable, trustworthy
July 11, 2024
Artificial intelligence systems have quickly advanced and can answer just about any question, but how they come to their decisions often isn't understood, even by the people who create the AI. Lynn Pickering, a University of Cincinnati alumna who is working on her PhD at UC, wants to make sure AI is used safely and responsibly. She wants people to be able to review how AI models come to their answers and ensure humans have opportunities to make final decisions, not the machines.