Your family WhatsApp group says the US is "closed" for Indian students. A senior on Instagram says OPT now costs $70,000. Breathe. 😮💨 Most of what's going viral is only half true. Some rules were announced and then blocked by judges. Some are just proposals. Only a few are real right now. Here's the honest scorecard.
⚡ The 30-second version
- 🟡 4-year cap on F-1 stays: blocked by a court. Not in force.
- 🟠 $70,000 OPT fee: only a proposal. Not in force.
- 🟡 $100,000 H-1B fee: struck down by courts, under appeal. F-1 students switching inside the US were exempt anyway.
- 🟢 H-1B lottery weighted by salary: real, since 27 Feb 2026.
- 🟢 Public social media for visa checks: real, since June 2025.
🚫 Rumour #1: "The US now kicks F-1 students out after 4 years"
"There's a new 4-year limit on F-1 visas, so long courses are dead."
🟡 Blocked for now. In July 2026 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a rule to swap "duration of status" for fixed stays of up to 4 years. On 14 September 2026, one day before it kicked in, a federal court in Massachusetts blocked it nationwide. You're still admitted for the length of your programme, like before.
👉 What it means for you: the government can appeal, so keep an eye on it if your course runs longer than 4 years or you plan a master's after a US bachelor's. Sources: DHS · case tracker
💸 Rumour #2: "OPT now costs $70,000"
"Forget working in the US after graduation. OPT now costs $70,000."
🟠 Only a proposal. On 8 October 2026 DHS proposed fees of $70,000 for a student's first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for later ones, including the STEM OPT extension. The fee would be charged to the university, which could pass it on to students or employers. Public comments close on 9 November 2026.
- No OPT fee is in force today. OPT and STEM OPT work as before.
- Under the proposal, students whose OPT is approved before a final rule takes effect wouldn't pay for that period.
- The final rule could change, get delayed, or be challenged in court.
Source: Vanderbilt University ISSS
🧾 Rumour #3: "The $100,000 H-1B fee kills F-1 to job plans"
"Companies won't hire international grads anymore. Every H-1B now costs $100,000."
🟡 Struck down by courts, and most F-1 students were exempt anyway. A presidential proclamation added a $100,000 payment for some H-1B petitions and was extended to September 2027. Courts in Massachusetts (June 2026) and San Francisco (30 September 2026) threw out the policies that collect it. The government is appealing.
Even before those rulings, USCIS guidance said the fee didn't apply to people already in the US who change status, like an F-1 student moving to H-1B with a US employer. A separate DHS fee proposal for H-1B cap petitions also exists. It's a proposal, not law. Source: Fragomen
🎰 Rumour #4: "The H-1B lottery is pure luck, so your degree doesn't matter"
"It's a lottery. Pick the cheapest course and pray."
🟢 Real: the lottery is now weighted by salary. Under a DHS rule in force since 27 February 2026, a registration at the highest wage level gets 4 entries, while the lowest level gets just 1. Higher-paying, specialised jobs now have much better odds.
👉 What it means for you: pick a course and a city where grads land skilled, well-paid roles. A cheap degree with weak job outcomes now costs you twice. Source: USCIS
📱 Rumour #5: "Make your Instagram private before the visa interview"
"Lock your account so the officer can't see anything."
🟢 Real, but it's the opposite. Since June 2025 the US State Department asks every F, M and J visa applicant to set their social media to public so officers can review it. You also list your handles on the DS-160 form.
- Don't delete accounts or hide handles. Missing or inconsistent info looks worse than an old post.
- Make sure your posts match your application: course, university, funding and plans.
Source: US State Department
📲 Send this to the friend who keeps forwarding visa rumours.
✅ Your F-1 game plan for 2027
- Plan for an in-person interview and book your slot as soon as your I-20 arrives.
- Set your social media to public and check it matches your DS-160.
- Choose your course for jobs, not just admission. Salary level now affects your H-1B odds.
- Budget without counting on OPT income until the fee proposal is decided.
- Re-check the rules before you fly. Two of these five stories are still in court.
🎯 Not sure if the US is still right for you?
We compare your profile, budget and career goal across the US, UK, Canada, Germany and more, and tell you the honest odds. No pressure, no fake promises.
💬 Comment "USA" on our Instagram post for the free F-1 checklist, or book a free profile evaluation at our Vanasthalipuram office, Hyderabad. WhatsApp: +91 720 720 5476
US rules are changing fast. Facts last checked 7 November 2026. Always confirm on official US government websites before you apply.