Many students in the US on Optional Practical Training (OPT) are worried because authorities are now cracking down on fake job consultancies. Some companies used to help students by giving them fake pay slips and pretending they had jobs, even though they didn’t really do any work. But now, these companies are being watched more closely and many have stopped this practice.
Hundreds of OPT students depended on these fake jobs to keep their visa status. But with these consultancies stopping, students only have 60 days to find real jobs. If they don’t, they could lose their legal status in the US.
A 26-year-old student from Hyderabad, India, who lives in Houston said, “It’s scary. I was told I had a job and got pay slips, but now it’s stopped. Finding a real job in such a short time feels impossible.”
Another student, 25, living in Virginia said, “The fake pay slips helped me stay in the US. I have been paying rent and tuition thinking everything was okay. Now, I have less than two months to find a real job. I’m trying to find trustworthy companies.”
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says using fake pay slips is illegal. It can cause a student to lose their visa and may hurt their chances for future visas or green cards. Sometimes, students might even be accused of lying on immigration papers.
Experts Advise Students to Be Careful
Immigration experts say students need to act fast and be careful. Nicole Alexandra Gunara, an immigration lawyer, said, “OPT students should carefully check if the jobs or companies they are dealing with are real.”
She advises students to talk to their school’s international student office or Designated School Officer (DSO). “Schools often know which companies are trustworthy,” she said. She also suggests talking to other employees or students at the company on LinkedIn, asking for clear details about the job, and checking if the company has real clients.
Gunara also warned, “Even if a student didn’t know the pay slips were fake, they should get legal help right away, collect proof they didn’t do anything wrong, tell their DSO, and try to find a new employer if possible.”
