U.S. proposes to extend work permits of foreign students

The proposal if implemented would benefit Indian students

The Obama administration has proposed to provide six-year work permit to certain category of foreign students in the U.S.

What does the new regulation say

A student who graduates from a bachelor’s degree programme involving science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects could work for up to three years after graduation in student status, then go on to get a master’s degree and work for three more years after that.

Currently, foreign students are authorised to work for a 12-month period after graduation from a U.S. degree programme.

Foreign students graduating from STEM degree programmes are granted an additional 17 months of employment.

The new proposals have been submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to which the students in non-STEM category would get work permit for three years if they had an earlier STEM degree.

Given that students from India are mainly in STEM courses, the proposal if implemented would benefit Indian students.