On Friday, the White House announced additional post-graduate work opportunities for international students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These opportunities will not only allow eligible international students to remain in the country for up to three years, but will also help the country attract and retain top international talent.
According to the Biden-Harris Administration, these policy changes will help to “advance predictability and clarity for pathways for international STEM scholars, students, researchers, and experts to contribute to innovation and job creation efforts across America. These actions will allow international STEM talent to continue to make meaningful contributions to America’s scholarly, research and development, and innovation communities.”
This is an impactful and positive development for students looking for exciting post-graduate work opportunities in the United States. This is also a progressive move for the United States as they seek to attract excellent international talent at a time when competition for those skilled workers has never been hotter.
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22 Additional STEM Fields Eligible for Optional Practical Training STEM Extension
STEM fields continue to evolve at a rapid pace, with new disciplines continuously emerging. Reflecting these changes, 22 additional “new multidisciplinary or emerging fields,” including financial analytics and data science, are now eligible for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) STEM Extension. Optional Practical Training allows students to find off-campus employment or an internship within their field of study. Students studying a STEM program are eligible for an OPT extension, which allows them to remain in the US to live or work for up to 36 months, a full two years longer than international students studying a non-STEM program.
Other top study abroad destinations, such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, offer eligible international students the opportunity to live and work in these countries after graduation. Post-graduate work programs enhance the value proposition of studying in these destinations and help attract talented international students from across the globe.
Help the US Attract Global STEM Talent
International students flock to the United States every year to study STEM at some of the world’s most innovative and cutting-edge educational institutions. In fact, according to a recent ApplyInsights article, more than half (50.4%) of international students in the US are studying or working in STEM. The new policies announced Friday will help the country attract and retain even more international students who have graduated from a STEM program in the US.
“One of America’s greatest strengths is our ability to attract global talent to strengthen our economy and technological competitiveness, and benefit working people and communities all across the country,” said the White House. And STEM fields, the statement added, are “critical to the prosperity, security, and health” of the country.
A Bright Future
This news is the latest in a series of positive developments for international recruitment to the United States. Earlier this month, an amendment to the Thrive Act was announced. The amendment will allow US higher education institutions to use commission-based recruitment partners to support the post-secondary dreams of international students.
New guidance was also issued from the US State Department that should increase the likelihood of an international student’s visa application being approved. The US also announced plans to extend visa interview waivers for many international student applications through the end of the year.
