Indian-American Congressman introduces bill to retain STEM grads in US - Times of India

MUMBAI: Indian-American Congressman Thanedar has introduced a bill – ‘Keep STEM Graduates in America Act’ – it proposes reforms to the H...

MUMBAI: Indian-American Congressman Thanedar has introduced a bill – ‘Keep STEM Graduates in America Act’ – it proposes reforms to the H-1B visa process and raises the number of available visas each year to enable STEM graduates to continue to stay and work in the US.
While the bill has sparked off conversation among the Indian diaspora, the general feeling is that like other similar bills, this too will not see the light of the day.The only ray of hope is US Presidential nominee Donald Trump’s recent statement in an interview that he favoured giving green cards to all foreign graduates of US universities.
“Perhaps, the political climate has thawed in favour of retaining the best and brightest. A favourable legislation that would enable STEM students to stay and work in the US could at least come up for voting in the House and Senate,” said a US attorney.
Trump in his interview said the mechanism of automatic green cards was needed to prevent bright students from returning to their home countries, like India and China, where they become multibillionaires. Following this blanket statement and the stir created by it, his campaign office hurriedly issued a heavily caveated statement highlighting an aggressive vetting process that would be adopted.
At present, H-1B visas are the most popular and feasible route for high-skilled foreign nationals, including newly qualified STEM graduates from US universities to work in the US. Indians face a waiting period of several decades before being able to obtain an employment based green card.
The annual quota for H-1B cap visas is 85,000 (which includes 20,000 visas that are allotted under the Masters’ cap for those beneficiaries having advanced degrees from US universities). The demand far outstrips the supply, resulting in a random selection method, for the coming fiscal that begins on Oct 1, US Citizenship, and Immigration Services (USCIS) received 4.70 lakh E-registrations for H-1B visas.
In a press statement, Congressman Thanedar states, “By expanding the availability of H-1B visas and making the process to obtain one simpler, we take an important and tangible step towards a future where those students with the most potential to innovate will innovate in the US.”
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies voiced support for the legislation, stating that about 3 lakh Indian students and millions of foreign students will benefit from this bill.

Source #IndianAmerican #Congressman #introduces #bill #retain #STEM #grads #Times #India [ad_1]