Indian Student Says Fake US Firm Led to OPT Loss, Warning Others

The student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company had a professional website and offered a legitimate-looking job offer, but had no physical office in the United States. The OPT authorization was rescinded after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted a routine site visit and found the employer's address was a virtual office.

The student now faces a 30-day deadline to leave the country, and has taken to social media to warn others about the risks of accepting employment from unknown firms. 'My life has ended,' the student wrote, describing the shock of losing legal status and the difficulty of finding a new employer within the short window.

Immigration attorneys say the case highlights a growing trend of fraudulent employers targeting international students who need OPT to gain work experience. They advise students to verify a company's physical presence, check its registration with state authorities, and use official USCIS resources to confirm employer legitimacy.

The student's warning comes as thousands of Indian students pursue STEM OPT each year, many of whom rely on small startups or remote work arrangements. Experts recommend students to be cautious of companies that offer quick hiring without interviews or ask for payment for job placement.