Take Action to Support International Students and Scholars
International STEM students and scientists are vital to the U.S. research and development ecosystem, as well as our economy and society more broadly. They bring fresh perspectives, diverse experiences, expertise, and ingenuity to our universities, laboratories, and companies. Making the U.S. a welcoming country for the world's best and brightest students is critical for our nation’s future.
Current U.S. visa and immigration policies discourage rather than attract talented international students. International students pursuing advanced STEM degrees in the U.S. can be denied student visas if they indicate an intention to stay and work in the U.S. after they graduate. Furthermore, these graduates face difficulties securing a stable immigration status when attempting to pursue their careers in the U.S. and end up stuck on temporary work visas for years.
These issues can be solved. A 2021 APS report indicates that making the F-1 visa “dual intent” and providing a clear path to a green card for international students who earn advanced STEM degrees from U.S. institutions will help restore the U.S. as a destination-of-choice for the world’s top students.
The Keep STEM Talent Act contains key provisions that enable international STEM graduate students to both state their intent to stay in the U.S. and pursue careers post-graduation and provide graduates with a path to a green card when they secure job offers from U.S. employers after graduation. The 2023 version of the bill also exempts the graduate’s spouse and children from visa caps.
Ask Congress to support the Keep STEM Talent Act today.