The Trump administration has increased surprise checks on foreign students working in the US under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
These inspections especially target students in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) who are allowed to work for three years after graduation.
Officers have been visiting student housing and even homes to verify whether students are following federal rules.
The Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit of USCIS along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ensures that students are doing jobs related to their field of study and maintaining valid student visa status (F-1).
Attorneys say inspections are legal but have sharply increased in frequency under Trump compared to Biden’s term.
Students report surprise visits where officials ask for documents like ID, job offers, transcripts and proof of work duties.
Non-cooperation or false details can risk a student’s visa. Immigration experts advise students to keep records updated especially Form I-983, report any changes in job or address quickly and remain calm during checks.
Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are also rising especially during visa changes or job loss cases.
Indian students, the largest group in STEM-OPT, are most affected and must be extra careful to follow all rules.
