United States Lawmakers Introduce Keep Innovators in America Act on 23 March 2026

Key facts

• United States (US) lawmakers introduced the Keep Innovators in America Act to formally codify the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme into law.
• The bipartisan bill was introduced by US Representatives Sam Liccardo, Jay Obernolte, and Raja Krishnamoorthi to provide statutory backing for the post-study work programme.
• The OPT programme currently allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the US for 12 months, while Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates are eligible for a two-year extension.
• According to the Open Doors survey for 2024-25, a total of 3,63,019 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions.
• Participation in the OPT programme among Indian students surged to approximately 1,43,740, making them the largest cohort of international students in the US.
• The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) stated that international students contribute more than $40 billion annually to the US economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs.