May 25, 2012 –
E-Verify employers benefit from expanded list of degree programs for student F-1 visas

On May 11, 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, (“DHS”) announced an expansion to the list of science, technology, engineering,and math (STEM) designated degree programs that qualify eligible graduates on student (F-1) visas for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension.

Per DHS Secretary, Janet Napolitano, “attracting the best and the brightest international talent to our colleges and universities, enabling them to contribute to their professional growth is an important part of our nation’s economic, scientific and technological competitiveness. International students and exchange visitors bring invaluable contributions to our nation, and this helps empower the next generation of international entrepreneurs, right here in America.”

Under the OPT program, foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities are able to remain in the U.S. and receive training through work experience for up to 12 months. Students who graduate with a STEM degree can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension, for a total of 29 months.

An F-1 student may be eligible for an OPT STEM extension under the following circumstances:

• Has completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a STEM field;
• Is currently engaged in post-completion OPT and has a job or job offer from an E-verify enrolled employer; and
• Has not already received a 17-month extension of OPT.

The expanded list of STEM degrees include fields such as Computer and Information Sciences, Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics and Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, among many others.   Per DHS’ Press Release, the expansion of the STEM degree Program list, reflect the Obama administration’s ongoing commitment to promote policies that embrace talented students from other countries, who come to the U.S. to study and enrich the nation by allowing highly skilled foreign graduates to extend their post-graduate training in the U.S. and work in field of study upon graduation.

For more information, see the complete STEM-designated degree program list.