SEVP Announces New OPT Employment Compliance Unit

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced a new “OPT Employment Compliance Unit” that will be dedicated to compliance matters involving wages, hours, and compensation within Optional Practical Training (OPT), the STEM OPT extension, and Curricular Practical Training. The unit will publish a report at least annually on its findings, with the first report to be published by July 31, 2021.

The unit will be responsible for “recommending investigations of employers and students, as needed, to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to ensure that the OPT programs operate in a lawful manner at U.S. worksites.” The unit will also “evaluate whether employers are adhering to the attestations and training plans required under the OPT extension, which will include on-site visitation.”

Related Link:

• “Broadcast Message: New SEVP Unit to Oversee Employment Compliance in the OPT Programs and Report on Impact on U.S. Workers,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jan. 13, 2021