Most Americans have ZERO clue this system exists. While you're forced to pay FICA taxes, foreign graduates on OPT/STEM OPT get 3 YEARS of this tax break during their critical early career years - keeping cash that's automatically taken from your paycheck.

THE MATH THAT HURTS AMERICANS:
• Tech salary: $200,000 (Google, Amazon, Meta)
• American graduate: Pays $13,818/year in FICA taxes $186,182 take-home
• Foreign graduate on OPT/STEM OPT: Pays $0 FICA taxes during their authorized work period $200,000 take-home
• That's $13,818 EXTRA CASH per year $41,454 total advantage during their work authorization

THE REAL HOUSING & WEALTH IMPACT:
This isn't about future benefits - this is about immediate financial advantage during the most critical wealth-building years of your career. While they face visa uncertainties, they also get financial advantages you don't:

>Even with education loans, they have $41,454 more to pay them down faster or save
>Their extra cash creates bidding power that raises prices for everyone
>FAANG companies actively file H1Bs for OPT workers, creating a direct pipeline
>This advantage occurs during the exact years Americans are trying to build savings

THE BOTTOM LINE:
They pay income tax like you do, but keep the 7.65% FICA tax that's automatically taken from your paycheck during their authorized work period.

The "they don't get benefits" argument ignores the reality: $41,454 in immediate, liquid cash advantage during your 20s is more valuable than uncertain future benefits. That head start compounds over a lifetime.

This is why wealth building feels impossible.
This is why you're always playing catch-up.
This is the immediate cash advantage they don't want you to know about.

Most Americans have ZERO clue this system exists. While you're forced to pay FICA taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare, foreign graduates on student work visas get 3 YEARS of this tax break in our most competitive job markets - keeping cash that's automatically taken from your paycheck.

THE MATH THAT HURTS AMERICANS:
• Tech salary: $200,000 (Google, Amazon, Meta)
• American graduate: Pays $13,818/year in FICA taxes $186,182 take-home
• Foreign graduate on OPT/STEM OPT: Pays $0 FICA taxes for their work period $200,000 take-home
• That's $13,818 EXTRA CASH per year $41,454 total advantage during their work authorization

THE REAL HOUSING IMPACT:
This isn't about future benefits - this is about immediate buying power. This is a different battle from the institutional investors buying up properties - this is about individual buyers with a government-given cash advantage outbidding you directly. In tech hubs like Austin, Seattle, and Bay Area:

>Even 100 foreign workers with this advantage = $4.1 MILLION in extra buying power
>They target the same starter homes and condos as American graduates
>Your mandatory FICA contributions become their down payment advantage
>They get liquid cash now while your money goes to government programs

THE BOTTOM LINE:
They pay income tax like you do, but keep the 7.65% FICA tax that's automatically taken from your paycheck.

Whether Social Security will exist for millennials is uncertain - but their $41,454 head start in today's housing market is absolutely certain. That cash advantage lets them outbid you on homes RIGHT NOW.

This is why you're getting outbid.
This is why housing feels impossible.
This is the immediate cash advantage they don't want you to know about.