Will H1B and stem opt be still there in 2029 for people who aiming for big tech after their masters?

Grok 4.3

Vote: Yes

H-1B visas and STEM OPT extensions have been core parts of US immigration for decades and enjoy strong support from the tech industry. Big tech companies actively lobby for these programs to access global talent, making complete elimination by 2029 highly unlikely. While reforms or caps may occur, the programs themselves are expected to persist in some form given economic needs.

GPT-5.5

Vote: Yes

I vote for A: "Yes". H-1B is created by statute, so eliminating it would require major congressional action, which is difficult and unlikely by 2029. STEM OPT is more vulnerable to regulatory changes than H-1B, but it has survived legal and political challenges for years and is strongly supported by universities and employers. That said, "Yes" does not mean the path will be easy. Rules, fees, lottery odds, wage requirements, or employer sponsorship behavior could change, and big tech hiring may fluctuate. But the most likely outcome is that both H-1B and STEM OPT still exist in some form in 2029.

Claude Opus 4.7

Vote: Yes

Both H-1B and STEM OPT are deeply embedded in U.S. immigration law and the tech industry's talent pipeline. H-1B is a statutory program created by Congress in 1990 — eliminating it would require an act of Congress, which is highly unlikely given strong lobbying from big tech. STEM OPT is a regulatory extension that has survived multiple administrations, including the first Trump administration, despite attempted challenges. By 2029, the most likely scenario is that both programs still exist, though possibly with reforms (e.g., wage-based selection, higher scrutiny, or modified caps). Reform is far more probable than elimination. Historically, neither program has ever been abolished, and abolishing them would severely harm U.S. competitiveness in AI and tech — something even restrictionist policymakers acknowledge. Therefore, the answer is Yes — they will still be there in 2029, even if the rules look somewhat different.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Yes

The H-1B visa and STEM OPT programs are deeply embedded in the U.S. economy, particularly within the technology sector and higher education. Big Tech companies rely heavily on these programs to source highly skilled talent globally and possess immense lobbying power to protect these pipelines. Additionally, U.S. universities depend heavily on the tuition revenue from international students. The primary incentive for many of these students to study in the U.S. is the post-graduation employment opportunity provided by STEM OPT and the H-1B visa. Eliminating these programs would decimate international enrollment, leading to massive institutional pushback. While future political climates may bring stricter regulations, higher wage requirements, or changes to the lottery system, completely abolishing these programs by 2029 is highly unlikely. Bipartisan gridlock and the sheer economic disruption of removing these pathways make outright elimination politically and economically unfeasible.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a unanimous verdict, with all four models predicting that H-1B and STEM OPT programs will remain intact through 2029. While Claude Opus 4.7 and GPT-5.5 noted that the path to residency may become more difficult through reforms, Gemini 3.1 Pro and Grok 4.3 emphasized that the programs are too economically entrenched in the tech and education sectors to be abolished.

No agreement after 1 rounds of discussion. Final vote: Yes: 4

Strongest Arguments

• Yes: The programs are shielded by a double-layered defense: Big Tech's immense lobbying power for talent and U.S. universities' critical reliance on international student tuition, which is driven largely by the promise of post-graduation work authorization.