An estimated 3,70,000 OPT holders will be waiting for full time jobs in the USA by February 2026, and nearly 60 percent of them are Telugu students. So far, a large number among them are surviving by doing discreet odd jobs hiding from the surveillance of ICE.
Many others are managing their expenses through money sent from home in India, often ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per month, and in some cases even more.
A worrying trend is that a section of OPT holders is resorting to purchasing fake Green Cards through the grey market operated by illegal consultancies, just to stay cool and secure initial employment. This exposes them to serious legal risks while also reflecting the desperation in the job market.
The only positive sign these 3.7 lakh OPT students consider is that the inflow of new foreign students has dropped significantly in recent times. This slowdown may reduce competition and open up job opportunities for existing OPT holders, if not immediately, then shortly, they hope.
However, major challenges remain. The rapid adoption of AI is reducing entry level roles, while many companies are increasingly hesitant to hire foreign nationals.
Fear of government scrutiny and a growing preference for citizens and Green Card holders are making the situation even tougher.
