For Advisors: OPT and Navigating the Student Transition
Optional Practical Training (OPT) has seen a lot of news coverage recently. Just in the last few months, form I-765 was lengthened from 2 to 7 pages, students reported waiting up to 5 months to receive their work authorization, and the current administration tried (and continues to try) to limit or eliminate OPT altogether.
The current COVID-19 pandemic complicates matters even more for OPT students, with many being advised not to leave the U.S. while waiting for approval, fearing that if they do leave the country, they will not be allowed back in the U.S. to begin their OPT.
We can’t take on all those issues in just one blog, but we can focus on two key questions you may have:
- What do you need to know about the current political climate as an international student advisor?
- How can you help your charges safely and successfully navigate the transition from F-1 international student to OPT worker?
The State of OPT in the United States
OPT has been a popular program for many years, and while OPT participation had continued to grow, it had been slowing down. According to a report published by Pew Research Center, enrollment in OPT in 2017 grew by only 8%, compared with 34% in 2016. The 26% drop is the largest decline since 2004, the first year for which data is available. Interestingly, while OPT enrollment continues to grow, albeit slowly, the Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors report states new international student enrollment is down significantly, decreasing by 0.9% in the 2018/2019 academic year and by 7% in the 2017/2018 academic year. So even slowing growth in OPT participation is a bright spot for international education in the United States considering the current new student trends.
The slowdown in OPT enrollment can be attributed partially to students opting for the newer STEM OPT program, as well as a decline in unemployment rates for U.S. workers, and new restrictions introduced by the current administration. Still, the report says, OPT remains a solid option for international students, especially compared to the elusive H-1B program, considering OPT still has no cap on participation.
The development of the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented (at least in recent history) and, as a result, all bets are off the table. OPT applications are being delayed, significantly. And with resources being focused on containing the pandemic and treating the ailing, OPT application delays are likely to get worse before they get better.
Navigating the Change
While OPT remains a fluctuating issue, it can be easy to forget or neglect other aspects of the student’s transition from F-1 international student to OPT worker. One very important, but often overlooked or misunderstood element, is health insurance.
When a school offers group health insurance for its F-1 students, that coverage often ends with OPT for the very simple reason that they are no longer full-time students. However, because OPT students are not U.S. citizens, their employers may not be able to offer them health insurance usually offered to their employees. To prevent this conundrum, you may wish to advise your international students to find OPT health insurance as soon as possible to avoid a potential gap in their coverage.
Even if the employer is able to offer health insurance, there may be a ‘waiting period’ or gap between their start date and the date health coverage begins, usually 90 days. Even then, OPT students need to compare the employer-sponsored plan with their current coverage to decide which is a better fit for their budget and health situation. Also consider the risk of long waits as some have reported, where your OPT students may be stuck in limbo for a short time. As neither a full-time student nor a full-time employee, OPT applicants still need health insurance. OPT health insurance meets all of these needs, whether for the entire duration of their OPT program or just as gap coverage until a new employer-sponsored plan kicks in.
Key Takeaway
If you know a student who is considering OPT or has recently transitioned from an F-1 status to an OPT status, make sure he or she hasn’t neglected to find new health insurance. Students can be tempted to roll the dice and go without health insurance for several months or even longer, an incredibly risky proposition, especially now. You can view LewerMark’s options to learn more about the best plans for every student and circumstance.
