Easier Paths for International Graduates to Stay in the US

Key Takeaways:

Many international graduates leave the US due to a complicated immigration system and limited H-1B visa availability.
The H-1B visa cap is insufficient, leading to a challenging lottery system and long waits for green cards.
Legislative reforms could address visa cap issues, recapture unused visas, and streamline green card backlogs for international graduates.

Why Is It Hard for International Graduates to Stay in the US?

International students form a significant part of the US higher education system. According to OpenDoors, nearly 80,000 international students attended Massachusetts colleges and universities during the 2022-2023 academic year. However, many of these graduates end up leaving after their studies due to a complicated immigration system. The Healey administration has highlighted that Massachusetts retains only 66% of its international graduates. This points to a larger issue within the US immigration framework that needs rectification.

Easier Paths for International Graduates to Stay in the US

Graduates who leave represent a missed opportunity for the country. These skilled individuals could contribute significantly to the US economy, productivity, and tax base if only policies were more accommodating.

What Are the Current Challenges with the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa program is a key pathway for international graduates to stay in the US. This visa is tailored for workers in “specialty” occupations, including technology and engineering fields. However, the demand for these visas far exceeds supply.

In 1990, Congress capped the number of H-1B visas issued annually at 65,000. In 2005, Congress added 20,000 more visas for US master’s degree graduates. Despite this, the supply is nowhere near enough. In April, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that 470,342 potential beneficiaries registered for the H-1B program, but only 120,603 were selected via a lottery.

David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, points out, “It’s exhausting trying to go through it.” Graduates often work on Optional Practical Training (OPT) before applying for an H-1B visa, hoping they get selected. “What’s our goal as a country? To educate the world, then send them on their way to create companies and jobs in other places?” Bier added.

How Does the System Impact Graduates Like Vrinda Punj and Others?

Take Vrinda Punj, an Indian national who moved to Nashua, NH at age 6 because her father held an H-1B visa. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2021 with a computer science degree. However, as an adult, she was no longer covered under her father’s visa. She had to find a job that would sponsor her H-1B visa and then enter the lottery. Punj said, “It felt as though my entire life, my entire future was dependent on random chance.”

This scenario is not unique. Dip Patel, who founded Improve the Dream to support young immigrants, estimates that over 200,000 people brought here as children face similar hurdles. “For many of them, the only pathway to citizenship is marrying a US citizen, because everything else is either roadblocked or backlogged,” Patel said. Legislation that would help these individuals stalled in Congress.

What Changes Could Congress Make to Help International Graduates?

Several approaches could alleviate these issues. Congress could increase the number of H-1B visas or create additional visas specifically for US college graduates and entrepreneurs. Currently, hundreds of thousands of green cards go unused each year due to administrative inefficiencies. The Niskanen Center estimates that the Biden administration could “recapture” 231,000 employment-based visas by allowing the use of these wasted visas from previous years.

For individuals who do secure an H-1B visa, it lasts up to six years and can be renewed if the holder has applied for a green card. However, the green card backlog is immense. As of March 2023, 1.8 million people awaited employment-based green cards, including 1.1 million from India, potentially facing a 134-year wait according to the Cato Institute.

Are There Any Short-term Solutions?

One short-term remedy is the Global Entrepreneur in Residence program. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey proposed allocating $220,000 to expand this initiative. This program allows universities, which are exempt from the H-1B visa cap, to sponsor graduate entrepreneurs. However, it offers only short-term sponsorships and is limited to businesses that align with a university’s mission.

William Brah, retired director of UMass Boston’s Venture Development Center, noted, “Universities can only sponsor entrepreneurs whose businesses are relevant to their mission.” His pilot program helped about 100 graduates over five years but isn’t a long-term fix.

What Are the Economic Implications?

Opposition to expanding the visa program often stems from fears that immigrants might take jobs from US-born workers. However, research indicates that foreign-born skilled workers actually create more job opportunities for US workers. Furthermore, increasing the number of H-1B visas would boost tax revenues, a benefit that could support broader immigration reforms if Congress can agree on the specifics.

Where Can I Find More Information?

For more detailed information on immigration policies and how they impact international graduates, visit the US Citizenship and Immigration Services official website. This resource offers authoritative information on current regulations, forms, and governmental updates pertinent to immigrants in the United States.

What Are the Long-term Solutions?

The ultimate solution lies in congressional action to reform the H-1B visa program and clear the green card backlog. Legislation that streamlines these processes would make it easier for international graduates to contribute to the US economy. As Governor Maura Healey said, “There’s competition for international students. [US colleges] spend billions of dollars training them. A bunch of them come with entrepreneurial intentions, get really fired up and want a chance to create a company in the US, and they can’t do it.”

Conclusion: A Chance for Change

The idea of attaching a green card to a college diploma might sound simplistic, but the underlying principle makes sense—giving US-trained, skilled workers an opportunity to stay and contribute to the American economy. Presently, the immigration system creates unnecessary hurdles for international graduates, causing the US to lose out on talented individuals who could drive innovation and economic growth. Addressing these issues through thoughtful legislative reform could create long-term benefits for the country.

Learn Today:

Glossary

H-1B Visa
- A non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The demand for these visas exceeds the annual cap, leading to a lottery system for selection.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- A program that permits international students who are F-1 visa holders to work in the US for one year after completing their degree. It provides a bridge for graduates aiming to obtain H-1B visas.
Green Card Backlog
- A significant delay in the approval process for permanent residency (green cards) due to a high number of applications and limited yearly quotas. This backlog particularly impacts applicants from countries with high visa demand like India.
Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program
- A state initiative that allows universities to sponsor international graduate entrepreneurs, bypassing the H-1B visa cap. The program aims to retain entrepreneurial talent but is often limited in scope and duration.
Employment-based Visas
- Visas granted to foreign workers based on their employment in the US. These include H-1B visas and other categories that enable skilled workers to stay and work in the country, though the yearly caps and administrative inefficiencies can result in wasted visas.

This Article In A Nutshell:

International graduates find it challenging to stay in the US due to a complex immigration system and limited H-1B visas. Despite their skills and education, many must leave after their studies, which is a missed opportunity for the US economy. Legislative reforms are needed to retain and utilize this talent.
— By VisaVerge.com

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