Hyderabad, May 13 -- Indian students planning to study and work in the United States (US) may face new challenges as the Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa program has come under scanner.

Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a major crackdown on the OPT program.

'Magnet for fraud'

ICE Director Todd M Lyons described the OPT program as a "magnet for fraud" and said investigators found irregularities involving nearly 10,000 foreign students linked to suspicious employers.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, May 12, Lyons said the OPT program was originally introduced during the Bush administration and later expanded under the Obama administration.

According to him, the Department of Homeland Security ...