Optional Practical Training

International students have been instrumental in bolstering US global competitiveness and have contributed nearly $41 billion to our national economy in 2018-2019 alone. Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs, which allow students to partake in temporary employment to receive practical work training to complement their education, are crucial to maintaining our nation’s ability to attract and retain the best and the brightest students from around the world. If the rumored curtailment of OPT programs comes to fruition, we will miss out on a key segment of the US research enterprise and our nation’s pursuits of discovery and innovation will suffer.

To address this issue, we must call Congress’s attention to the recommendations that Rep. Stivers’ (R-OH) office made regarding protecting OPT programs to ensure that the US remains an attractive destination for international students.

The letter recommends: Expressing opposition to the rumored ending or curtailment of the OPT program and urging the administration to publicly clarify that OPT will remain fully intact.

Call Congress’s attention to these recommendations and sign your letter today!

The Impact of Personalized Emails

Although personalizing your email with your own experiences and anecdotes may take a few extra minutes, research shows that it is well worth the time. According to a Congressional Management Foundation survey, individualized emails are the second most effective method overall for positively influencing a member’s decision on an issue. Individualized email messages are also 64% more effective than form email messages.

Furthermore, 83% of congressional staff surveyed said that it would take more than 50 form emails for them to consider taking the action requested. On the other hand, 70% of staff said that it would take less than 50 personalized emails for them to consider taking action. We encourage you to personalize your emails to Congressional members in order to maximize the impact of your voice.