This bill creates a new immigration category for certain foreign students who earn a master’s degree or higher in a STEM field from a U.S. accredited college while physically in the United States. It lets those graduates (and their spouses and children) apply for lawful permanent resident status if they have a U.S. job offer that is directly related to the degree, pay above the area median wage for the job, and have an approved labor certification. The bill also changes student visa rules so eligible STEM graduate students may have “dual intent” (they can seek permanent residence while on a student visa). It adds a requirement that F‑status students seeking advanced STEM degrees apply for admission before starting their program and directs the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to use strengthened vetting (credential checks, background checks, interviews) and to report annually to Congress on implementation, visa volumes, processing times, security outcomes, and economic impacts.
No publicly available information.
The bill’s stated purpose is to provide lawful permanent resident status to certain advanced STEM degree holders, require prior admission for eligible graduate students, strengthen vetting for those students, and report on the program’s effects. The sponsors introduced it to create a direct immigration path for qualifying STEM graduates and to add related vetting and reporting requirements.
No publicly available information.