Ninan LegalFebruary 26, 2026by admin

Optional Practical Training

Last week I had the pleasure of interacting with the 2026 UGA LL.M. class in a virtual OPT ( Optional Practical Training ) Presentation. This group of fourteen international students represents eleven different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including Nigeria, Guatemala, Ghana, Brazil, Bangladesh, Kenya, Germany, Republic of Korea, France, Nepal, and Canada. They are talented lawyers specializing in a wide range of fields including mergers and acquisitions, oil, gas, and energy law, corporate law, human rights law; immigration law, international trade law, sports law, securities law, and international humanitarian law. This year’s attendees included international students in the UGA JD program resulting in interesting questions on pre-completion OPT as well. Key highlights of my presentation:

  • OPT process;
  • Key dates and timelines to complete the application;
  • USCIS processing times;
  • OPT Unemployment time & grace period;
  • Pathways to US employment post completion OPT;
  • President Trump’s Executive Orders and impact on Higher Education;
  • Extreme Vetting, Social Media, Travel Bans, Student Visa revocations and guidance on international travel during F-1 status

My thanks to Dean Rusk Center Director , Sarah Quinn and International Professional Education Manager, Mandy Dixon for facilitating this wonderful interaction every year with the LL.M. class!

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Terence RaphaelAssociate Director – Human Resources
As a global technology firm, we have ongoing needs for best-in-class immigration counsel. Anita Ninan has been our go-to attorney in that field since 2012. Whether the matter involves managerial, technological, sales, or support personnel, Anita works tirelessly to resolve all our visa, green card, citizenship, and other immigration issues. No matter how complex a situation, her unparalleled knowledge, efficiency, and calming demeanor, along with her multi-national, multi-cultural background, make her invaluable in our day-to-day operations. Simply put, Anita should be everyone’s ‘go to’ attorney for immigration matters.
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