Bringing STEM talent inbound to the U.S. just got easier

In a move to dramatically improve the ability of companies to draw the best and brightest from around the world in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the United States announced new actions that hope to provide greater ease, clarity and predictability for pathways to import STEM scholars, students, researchers and experts. On Jan. 21, the White House released a Fact Sheet that outlines the administration’s efforts, which can be divided into four general areas. 

1. Improved National Interest Waivers For Employment-Based Immigrants
2. Updating O-1A Visas
3. Expanding Eligibility For STEM OPT
4. Expanded Programs For J-1 Exchange Visitors

The State Department will let eligible visiting students in those fields to complete up to 36 months of academic training, according to a notice in the Federal Register. There will also be an initiative to connect these students with U.S. businesses. This Forbes article does a great job of detailing out more within each of these four areas, but one of the interesting elements was that the Department of Homeland Security announced 22 new fields of study that will now be included in the STEM optional practical training (OPT) program through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). These new fields are multidisciplinary or emerging fields and include areas like bioenergy, forestry, cloud computing, anthrozoology, climate science, business analytics and data visualization. Also, the updates from DHS will help to clarify how it determines eligibility for those with "extraordinary abilities" and shares examples of evidence that can help to satisfy the O-1A criteria. 

Government data shows that international students are increasingly the lifeblood of academic research. Proponents of these changes feel like this will allow the United States to compete better with China, and garner the talent it needs to maintain its lead in the future global economy by encouraging talented foreign-born scientists and engineers to become part of the U.S. economy and the nation. 

What this will likely also do is make it easier and more efficient for a larger group of STEM-related companies to bring key talent into the U.S. at a time when competition is high.