Study in USA: Good news for STEM OPT students, bar to work at client worksite lifted

There is a great news for people who are planning for study abroad in USA and are planning for a degree which falls under STEM. STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Discussion of STEM-related programs has become a presidential priority because too few college students are pursuing degrees in these fields in places like USA where now other sources of income are more important for youngsters than getting an actual degree. This is the reason why international student are welcome to study and settle there to bridge the gap that’s emerging in their country. Considering this agenda, The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has evoked a sigh of relief by reversing its earlier stand that international STEM students undergoing Optical Practical Training (OPT) cannot be placed at customer worksites. The USCIS made the changes on Friday night and removed the restriction on STEM students working at customer worksites.

Though the bar has been lifted by the USCIS, the employers can only recruit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics- Optional Practical Training students at customer worksites if-

·        All regulatory training obligations are met.

·        Employer maintains a bona fide relationship with the employee.

·        The student will not replace a full or part-time US worker.

·        Training opportunity will assist the student in attaining training goals.

International students are eligible for a 12-month OPT under which they can work in the US. The students who have completed a STEM degree are eligible to apply for an OPT extension of 24 months. The removal of this restriction will prove to be efficient in shaping the future of nearly 1.9 lakh Indian students who are studying in the US with STEM courses as the top draws.

Due to this earlier guideline, a lot of students who wanted to obtain work visas in the future were being adversely impacted and there was a risk of being debarred from entering the US for several years but with the new changes made on the website, STEM students undergoing OPT can get placed by following the necessary guidelines mentioned on the official website of USCIS https://www.uscis.gov/