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Under the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) extension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a student visa holder may petition to extend his or her stay in the United States to receive work experience training for up to 17 months after completing a qualifying STEM degree program. On May 12, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expanded the list (pdf) of qualifying STEM degree programs to include an additional 50 fields, e.g., Neuroscience, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Pharmaceutics and Drug Design. According to an ICE press release, the list expansion will help “address shortages in certain high tech sectors of talented scientists and technology experts.”
Photo credit: Alexander Raths