As part of President Obama’s executive actions on immigration announced last fall, the White House said that the Department of Homeland Security would propose changes to "expand and extend the use" of the optional practical training (OPT) program, which currently provides temporary work authorization to international students for 12 months postgraduation with an additional 17-month extension for students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The White House did not release any further information at the time, but new details about possible changes are discussed in a letter from the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Charles Grassley, opposing the administration’s plans to expand the OPT program.
Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, wrote that officials from Homeland Security briefed Senate Judiciary staffers on May 28 about the proposed changes. Based on the briefing, Grassley wrote that his understanding is that the department is moving ahead with proposed regulations that would lengthen the OPT STEM extension period from 17 to 24 months and allow students to take advantage of the extension at two different points in their academic careers rather than only once -- "for a total of up to six years of postgraduation employment in student status."
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/06/10/senators-letter-provides-insight-possible-changes-expand-postgraduation-work-program