Challenge To OPT Rule Fails

A U.S. district court judge in New Jersey  denied an attempt by H-1B visa opponents to halt an interim final rule issued by the Bush Administration,  which extended the period of time technically trained students could remain in the US from 12 months to 29 months -- a move it claimed would give students a better shot at getting an H-1B visa. The opponents argued that the extension, put in place earlier this year, is a backdoor visa increase and will hurt U.S. workers. However, in a ruling on Tuesday, August 12, U.S. District Court Judge Faith Hochberg denied a preliminary injunction sought by the Programmers Guild, the Immigration Reform Law Institute and other groups.