dailyloe.com – Andres Pulido, a recent University of Florida graduate, is affected by a pause in optional practical training (OPT) applications. This pause impacts about a million work authorization applications. Pulido applied in October for OPT to work on self-driving cars, but he is still waiting for authorization.
He was slated to start his job in February but has missed several months of planned income. Pulido traveled from Florida to California’s Bay Area for the position but returned home when it became clear his OPT would not be processed in time.
As a native of Venezuela, Pulido is among those from countries on the Trump administration’s travel ban list. In memos from late 2025 and early 2026, the government paused processing immigration benefit applications, including OPT, for individuals from these countries.
The pause was supposed to last until U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services implemented new application vetting guidelines. However, four months later, processing has not resumed, leaving many F-1 visa holders, like Pulido, in limbo.
Experts have noted that no guidance has been provided regarding the situation. Pulido shared that living with his wife, a current Ph.D. student, has made things slightly easier as she earns some income.
Despite this, his inability to secure a job has significantly impacted their finances. Consequently, Pulido has begun applying for positions in other countries.
He expressed the emotional toll of this decision, stating, “I had to completely change my life once 10 years ago, and I built it here.” He emphasized the difficulty of leaving his established life, family, and professional network behind.
Pulido concluded, “It was a very cold, calculated decision of, ‘I cannot live. I need to support myself.’” His situation highlights the challenges faced by international students amid the ongoing travel ban and its implications.
