OPT students face visa risk as US cracks down on fake job consultancies
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Students in the U.S. on Optional Practical Training OPT ) are facing fresh uncertainty as authorities step up action against job consultancies. These firms, which previously kept students nominally employed by issuing fake payslips and payroll records without providing real work, are now under stricter oversight.With many consultancies halting such practices, hundreds of OPT students who depended on these arrangements to maintain their visa status may have only 60 days to find genuine employment or risk losing their legal status."It's terrifying," a 26-year-old postgraduate student from Hyderabad, currently residing in Houston, told The Times of India. "I was told I had an 'employer' and was receiving pay stubs, but now they've stopped. I don't know what to do; finding real work at short notice is almost impossible."Another 25-year-old from the city, currently staying in Virginia, shared how the fabricated payroll had kept him afloat in the US. "I've been paying thousands in rent and tuition under the assumption that my paperwork was in order. Now I'm scrambling, with less than two months to find something genuine. I'm now looking for trustworthy consultancies."US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidelines state that such documentation is fraudulent and may endanger an individual's legal status and future immigration prospects. Fake payrolls can result in the termination of an I-20 form, loss of immigration status, and, in some cases, allegations of misrepresentation in future immigration processes, such as H-1B visa or green card applications.Immigration experts are urging students to take proactive measures. "OPT students should do a gut check and assess the legitimacy of any roles or consultancies they are considering," said Nicole Alexandra Gunara, principal immigration solicitor at Manifest Law."Speak with your Designated School Officer (DSO) or international student office, as universities are often aware of problematic arrangements. Reach out via LinkedIn to speak with other employees or F-1 students at the company, ask for a clear work statement outlining duties and deliverables, and verify whether the company has active client contracts," she saidOn the legal implications, she added: "Even if a student was unaware they were being issued fake payrolls, they should seek immediate legal counsel, gather evidence to show they acted in good faith, report the issue to their DSO, and change employers if possible."(With TOI inputs)
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