Robert S. Whitehill was featured in the Gnomes National News Service article "Foreign-Born STEM Workers Get to Stay in U.S." Full text can be found in the October 26, 2015, issue, but a synopsis is below.
The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled a replacement proposal to the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) student visa program which will give foreign-born students and recent graduates the ability to work within the U.S. for a longer period of time.
The expansion of the optional practical training (OPT) program provides workers with extended time to "train in the kinds of high-tech, highly specialized fields that often have steep learning curves". The program will also give additional time to individuals who are performing research projects to ensure that they are able to conduct all phases of the project, to include publishing.
"The DHS announcement should mean that STEM OPT is saved," according to Fox Rothschild Partner and immigration attorney Robert Whitehill.
This will come as a relief to the nearly 50,000 foreign-born students and recent graduate who are participating in the current STEM student visa program.
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