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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
Science, technology students benefit from new visa rules
Government extends optional 12-month work period by 17 months
Nandanie Khilall
For some international students, post-graduation visas are now more attainable than ever before.
On April 4, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that allows qualified international students pursuing a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics to apply for an extension of the time they are allowed to work in the U.S. after graduation.
Under the new rule, certain students are eligible to receive up to 17 months extension of post-graduation Optional Practical Training, temporary employment directly related to an F-1 visa holder's major area of study. Under prior rules, an F-1 student was authorized to receive up to 12 months of practical training either during their summers or after graduation.
This new rule came four days before USCIS announced that they would no longer accept anymore H-1B visa applications. This type of visa allows students to work in the country after graduation.
Typically, a student would apply for an H-1B working visa the April following their graduation. Until that point, these students would use OPT time to work during the summers and after graduation.
In recent years, however - and especially last year - getting the visa has become harder and harder. The cap was set at 65,000 applications this year, similar to previous years despite discussions in Congress to raise the cap.
"I don't understand why this country has to make it so hard for people who are willing to go the legal way and are just trying to gain experience," said Kate, a College senior whose name was changed because of the sensitivity of the issue.
With these two announcements coming right after each other, some liberal arts students, who will not be eligible for the extension, are not pleased.
"I understand why they don't include liberal arts fields in the extension rule, but it's just really frustrating," Kate added. "I really want to work in DC, but none of the jobs I find will sponsor me because of these visa issues."
On April 4, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that allows qualified international students pursuing a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics to apply for an extension of the time they are allowed to work in the U.S. after graduation.
Under the new rule, certain students are eligible to receive up to 17 months extension of post-graduation Optional Practical Training, temporary employment directly related to an F-1 visa holder's major area of study. Under prior rules, an F-1 student was authorized to receive up to 12 months of practical training either during their summers or after graduation.
This new rule came four days before USCIS announced that they would no longer accept anymore H-1B visa applications. This type of visa allows students to work in the country after graduation.
Typically, a student would apply for an H-1B working visa the April following their graduation. Until that point, these students would use OPT time to work during the summers and after graduation.
In recent years, however - and especially last year - getting the visa has become harder and harder. The cap was set at 65,000 applications this year, similar to previous years despite discussions in Congress to raise the cap.
"I don't understand why this country has to make it so hard for people who are willing to go the legal way and are just trying to gain experience," said Kate, a College senior whose name was changed because of the sensitivity of the issue.
With these two announcements coming right after each other, some liberal arts students, who will not be eligible for the extension, are not pleased.
"I understand why they don't include liberal arts fields in the extension rule, but it's just really frustrating," Kate added. "I really want to work in DC, but none of the jobs I find will sponsor me because of these visa issues."
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