The H-1B visa lottery results for FY 2026 have started rolling out and for many Indian students, it’s another year of crushed dreams. At the same time, Day 1 CPT recruiters are on the lookout, preying on those desperate to stay in the US.
An immigrant attorney, Laura Mitchell, called out this growing CPT scam. She exposed how these programs exploit students while making a mockery of the F-1 visa system.
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Day 1 CPT lets students work from the first day of their program—a loophole universities shamelessly abuse. CPT was meant for practical training related to your course, and not as an instant work permit.
But some colleges are pushing these programs with easy application waivers, it’s clear they care more about money than education. They know desperate students will pay anything to stay in the US.
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For those rejected in the H-1B lottery, this looks like an easy escape at first glance. Young F-1 visa holders believe they can enroll in a hybrid degree, get CPT, and keep working.
However, USCIS will be on your tail cracking down on past abuses and deportat you as well. In 2019, over 100 Indian students fell into this trap in a sting operation and got kicked out of the US.
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Fraud universities cash in while students gamble with their futures. And this is primarily because of a broken immigration system.
Without real reforms, like a better H-1B process and stricter oversight, this mess will continue. Students must be careful as taking a shortcut today could mean visa rejection or deportation tomorrow.
