OPT may be canceled, and Chinese international students may face the dilemma of "graduation equals departure"; the EB-5 rural project becomes the best springboard for development in the United States!
At the recently concluded U.S. Senate nomination hearing, Joseph Edlow, the newly nominated Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by President Trump, clearly stated his support for terminating the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program. This statement has shaken the entire international student community and once again sounded the alarm that "studying abroad does not equal staying in the U.S."
According to statistics from the Institute of International Education, in the 2023/24 academic year alone, 242,000 international students participated in internships in the U.S. through the OPT program, with nearly 80,000 involved in STEM OPT (which allows internships for up to three years). This program not only provides practical opportunities for students but is also a crucial step towards obtaining an H-1B work visa.
However, the newly nominated Director of the USCIS has clearly expressed support for canceling the OPT program. As a system established by executive order that does not require congressional approval, OPT faces the risk of being rapidly abolished. Once canceled, international students will face the dilemma of "graduation equals departure," and the path to H-1B will be cut off, dimming the hope for development in the U.S.
The U.S. education and business sectors are united in calling for the retention of OPT, believing that this program is crucial for the educational attractiveness, global competitiveness, research capabilities, and future innovation of the United States. However, in the current uncertain policy environment, planning identity pathways in advance has become a rational choice for international families.
The OPT system faces policy reversal and may be administratively abolished.
OPT, or Optional Practical Training, is a program that allows foreign students to undertake a one-year internship in the U.S. after completing their studies (students in STEM fields can extend this to three years). The program aims to provide international students with practical experience while also supplying U.S. companies with high-quality talent from around the world.
Although OPT has been in operation in the U.S. for many years, benefiting over a million students, its legal basis is not established by congressional legislation but rather by administrative regulations authorized by the federal government under the Immigration and Nationality Act. In other words, OPT is essentially an administrative program, and if the administrative department intends to terminate it, it can be abolished directly without congressional approval.
This is precisely why, once the new Director of the USCIS promotes policy adjustments, the fate of OPT may be completely rewritten in a short period.
If OPT is canceled, what risks will international students face?
• Loss of internship opportunities: Unable to legally intern in the U.S. after graduation, missing a critical phase for establishing connections with U.S. companies;
• Identity disruption: The legal stay period originally relying on OPT as a buffer will no longer exist, and students will face "graduation equals departure";
• H-1B pathway obstruction: Losing work experience and employer support will make it more difficult to apply for long-term visas such as H-1B;
• Diminished educational investment: Families' hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational expenses may lose their continued value;
• Decreased international attractiveness of U.S. universities, with some majors potentially facing talent shortages.
In light of such policy risks, an increasing number of Chinese families are turning to solutions with greater identity certainty and pathway stability—the EB-5 investment immigration program.
EB-5 Rural Project: A Rational Choice to Solve the "Identity Dilemma"
As one of the few pathways in the U.S. immigration system that can directly obtain permanent green cards, EB-5 investment immigration has the following core advantages:
• No language, education, or employer requirements; the entire family can simultaneously obtain U.S. permanent resident status;
• After obtaining green card status, children enjoy the same opportunities as local students in terms of further education and internships;
• Avoid OPT policy risks, without relying on H-1B lottery or employer support;
• Flexible arrangements for residence, education, and career paths, truly achieving "identity freedom."
The EB-5 rural project series promoted by Worldway Group has the following advantages:
• Currently no waiting period: Applicants from mainland China do not need to wait; applications enter the approval process immediately;
• Priority approval channel: Supported by special policies from the USCIS, processing times have significantly improved;
• The project is set up with a first-priority repayment structure;
• Real estate is used as collateral for repayment, enhancing the feasibility of project performance.
OPT policy instability requires proactive response to identity pathways
With the appointment of the new USCIS Director and clear policy tendencies, OPT is at risk of termination at any time. If a large number of international students turn to the EB-5 channel at that time, the surge in applicants may lead to a re-emergence of waiting period issues, missing the current "no waiting period + accelerated processing" golden window.
Rather than passively waiting for policy changes, proactive planning and layout is the rational choice to ensure stability in family education and career paths. The EB-5 rural project, with no waiting period and priority approval, is currently the most certain way to immigrate to the U.S. Seize the policy window and allow your children to truly study abroad and stay in the U.S., achieving "identity freedom" in life!
Why Choose Worldway Group?
• Specializing in U.S. investment immigration for 19 years, with a professional writing team that has over 19 years of service experience and thousands of successful U.S. green card applications, rich case experience, and outstanding reputation;
• All selected projects are due diligence reviewed by local U.S. attorney teams and professional project teams;
• Covering major cities in China, providing one-on-one consulting and customized full-process services;
• Over 6,000 families have completed their U.S. green card arrangements through Worldway, earning their trust.
The two best-selling premium EB-5 projects—the "Florida Lakeside Jewish Community" which has received approvals for I-956F/I-526E/green card three times, and the "Aspen Kodiak Apartments" which has received dual approvals for I-956F and I-526E—are both high-quality EB-5 rural projects that have undergone strict screening and review by Worldway Group, opening a fast green channel for immigration to the U.S. to help you seize the opportunity and realize your American dream! Project spots are limited, so act quickly!
For inquiries in mainland China: 400-138-2929, Hong Kong customer service center: (852)2802 8798
