Over a thousand graduates engaged with our team to clarify questions about employment, visa options, and next steps following Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Every October, inquiries arrive with great urgency. On the day of the OCIC event, more than a thousand OPT graduates participated, bringing genuine concerns about employment prospects, visa status, and future pathways beyond OPT. They sought actionable guidance rather than general information, turning to experts who could support thoughtful planning.
The program, titled "OPT to Green Card: Real Paths From Real Speakers," was designed specifically to address these needs. Featured speakers included Chintan Shah, Founder of The Super Coach; Rakshit Goyal, Founder of That Indian Coach; Sameer Ranjan, CTO and Director of Data Science at Catenate; and Veeraj Gadda, AI and Career Creator and Solutions Engineering Manager. Each presenter shared insights grounded in authentic career experiences, which resonates strongly with graduates navigating comparable uncertainties.
Such programs succeed because of the dedicated professionals behind them. To our team: your moderation ensured smooth session flow, your management of the chat facilitated responses to nuanced, personal questions, and your guidance provided participants with clearer direction than when they began. These contributions, though not always visible in schedules, significantly shaped the attendees' experience.
For our university partners, this engagement is particularly meaningful. Graduates in OPT face some of the most critical decisions early in their careers, often grappling with employment and immigration-related questions well beyond graduation. When alumni know there is a reliable resource for these concerns, it reflects the institution’s sustained commitment to student success and professional development.
Moreover, effective guidance need not be complex to be impactful. Graduates arriving with uncertainty and leaving with greater clarity have gained a tangible benefit, even as their broader journeys continue. For many participants, this clarified perspective is expected to have a lasting influence.
Looking forward, we will continue to develop programs that respond directly to the evolving questions of students and graduates. We welcome dialogue with partners interested in extending this type of support within their communities. To our team, thank you for the dedication you demonstrated throughout the day. To our partners, thank you for entrusting us with supporting your students’ next steps.
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