A Reddit post by an international UX/Product Designer on STEM OPT has struck a chord with the immigrant tech community, highlighting the growing challenges faced by foreign professionals navigating the U.S. job market amid visa restrictions.
The user, who was laid off two months ago, shared their emotional ordeal of job hunting while on the STEM OPT extension. Despite finally receiving a job offer, the company rescinded it upon learning of the user’s visa status — a setback that now leaves them with just three weeks before reaching the 150-day unemployment limit allowed under STEM OPT rules.
“I feel stuck,” the user wrote, adding that while interviews continue, most companies either ghost them after discovering their visa situation or are too slow in making hiring decisions.
Faced with the prospect of losing legal status in the U.S., the user explored enrolling in Day 1 CPT programs — often seen as a last resort for maintaining status — but found no available intakes starting soon enough to prevent a gap. Meanwhile, loan payments loom, creating additional financial pressure.
The post has quickly gained traction, with several users chiming in with support, legal suggestions, and job leads. Many shared similar experiences, pointing to a broader trend of hesitation among employers to sponsor international candidates even for temporary training-based work authorizations like STEM OPT.
The user, who has experience in VR, voice interfaces, and AI/ML product design, also made a heartfelt plea for job referrals in the UX/Product Design space.
The story underscores a difficult reality for many highly skilled international graduates — despite possessing in-demand technical skills, visa-related stigma and slow hiring cycles often prevent them from securing employment in time, potentially forcing them to leave the U.S.