| The Biden/Harris Administration recently announced several new policy changes to remove barriers to legal immigration by strengthening opportunities for international STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) students and scholars (the “Policies”). These folks commonly hold F-1 and J-1 visas. The new Policies are welcome and long overdue. US immigration law continues to be all about “global competitiveness” and attracting the “best and brightest” to the US so they do not go to other countries that “open their arms” in the hopes of obtaining a competitive edge in the “worldwide brain drain”. The new Policies include: (1) the creation of the Early Career STEM Research Initiative to facilitate the research, training, and education of early-career STEM exchange visitors. (2) clarification about the use of the national interest waiver (NIW) for persons with advanced degrees in STEM fields and entrepreneurs. (3) twenty-two new fields of study for the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. OPT expansion is particularly encouraging given that the government uses the STEM Designated Degree Program List to determine F-1 students’ eligibility for the 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT, based on their science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree. Additions to the list make more students eligible for the STEM OPT extension and allow them to apply in several H-1B lotteries thereby giving them an edge for obtaining a long-term work visa in the US. Stay tuned as these new Policies unfold. Contact. Law and Business News Email. editor. [email protected] |
USA removes immigration barriers for international STEM students and scholars
