USCIS pause on OPT decisions leaves Iranian students in limbo

Thousands of Iranian students in the United States face a sudden roadblock to postgraduation employment as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has placed an indefinite hold on adjudicating certain benefit applications, including Optional Practical Training, for nationals of countries covered by new travel bans.

There are more than 12,000 Iranian students currently studying in the U.S. Last year, nearly 1,800 participated in OPT, the program that allows eligible international graduates to work in their field for up to 12 months, with an additional 24 months for STEM degree holders.

This year, the number of new OPT approvals could drop to zero because of the pause, which applies to applicants from several countries, including Iran. The suspension follows a series of executive actions that began in mid-2025.

On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 10949, which, citing national security grounds, imposed a full travel ban on all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories—F-1 student visas included—for nationals of 12 countries, among them Iran.

A second proclamation on Dec. 16 extended the ban and added more countries subject to full or partial travel restrictions. Linked to those actions, USCIS issued two policy memoranda—one in December and one on Jan. 1—ordering an immediate “hold and review” of benefit applications filed by nationals from countries on the travel-ban list.

The Jan. 1 memo called for a “comprehensive review of all policies, procedures, and screening and vetting processes” related to benefit requests. USCIS said the pause was intended to ensure applicants are “vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” acknowledging it “may result in delay to the adjudication of some pending applications.” The agency has not provided a timeline for when its review will conclude.

In the meantime, graduates from Iran and 38 other “high-risk” countries, as well as individuals holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority, face uncertainty about their eligibility to work through OPT after graduation. Affected students can still submit applications and pay the $470 filing fee, but they cannot expect a final decision while the pause remains in place.

Many would remain in F-1 status—neither studying nor employed—pending approval. The stakes are significant. According to the latest Open Doors report, Iran ranks 16th among countries sending students to the United States, and Iranian students contributed more than half a billion dollars to the U.S.

economy in 2024. They also represent one of the most highly educated cohorts of international students: 80 percent were studying at the graduate level last year, and 95 percent were enrolled at doctoral universities. As spring graduation approaches, the absence of work authorization could jeopardize Iranian students’ ability to stay in the U.S., leaving their newly earned skills idle in the American job market.

With no timeline from USCIS on when adjudications might resume, uncertainty is set to continue.