Biden-Harris Actions to Attract STEM Talents

The Biden Administration, in its quest to pursue global talents and strengthen the U.S. economy and global competitiveness, announces policies aimed to encourage and attract talents in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These actions are held to allow STEM talents to make contributions to the U.S. academe and industry in general. These policies are as follows:

  • Early Career STEM Research Initiative

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announced the ‘Early Career STEM Research Initiative,’ an initiative building a connection between hosts organizations and businesses and exchange visitors coming to the U.S. who are engaged in STEM research through research, training, or educational exchange visitor programs. The policy will facilitate the matching of host organizations and STEM talents based on each other’s needs taking into consideration suitable positions, relevant educational and cultural exchange experiences, and resources. Once the best match is identified, necessary documents shall be issued in favor of the STEM talent for the latter’s J-1 Visa application. The STEM talent will be monitored continually by the sponsor upon arrival in the U.S. ECA further announced that Eligible exchange visitors must be undergraduate and pre-doctoral degree-seeking J-1 College and University students who are pursuing or recently completed STEM-related studies. The maximum total length of the academic training is capped at 36 months.

  • 22 New Fields of Study Under OPT Program through SEVP

The previously announced 22 new fields of study are now included in the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This will increase the number of F-1 students eligible for OPT after earning their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in the U.S. and stretch their allowable period of stay to up to 36 months to complete their OPT. These 22 new fields are as follows:

  1. Bioenergy.
  2. Forestry, General.
  3. Forest Resources Production and Management.
  4. Human-Centered Technology Design.
  5. Cloud Computing.
  6. Anthrozoology.
  7. Climate Science.
  8. Earth Systems Science.
  9. Economics and Computer Science.
  10. Environmental Geosciences.
  11. Geobiology.
  12. Geography and Environmental Studies.
  13. Mathematical Economics.
  14. Mathematics and Atmospheric/ Oceanic Science.
  15. Data Science, General.
  16. Data Analytics, General.
  17. Business Analytics.
  18. Data Visualization.
  19. Financial Analytics.
  20. Data Analytics, Other.
  21. Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
  22. Social Sciences, Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods.
  • O-1A Manual Update Regarding Evidentiary Criteria

This policy, contained in Volume 2 of the Policy Manual, updates the evaluation of evidence submitted in support of O-1A petitions for beneficiaries in sciences, education, business, or athletics, including examples and considerations that may be especially relevant for STEM talents. The updated guidance lowers the bar of O-1 working visa for STEM major students, which makes it more approachable than before. Examples of comparable evidence that petitioners could present in support of their beneficiary STEM talent’s application were also provided in the update.

  • Updates on NIW Adjudication

USCIS policy update explained how NIW can be used for STEM talents and entrepreneurs as well as the weight of recommendations from governmental and quasi-governmental entities thereby promoting an efficient and effective benefit processing and adjudication of cases.

Before you start NIW or O-1 application, it is always beneficiary to request an evaluation from an experienced lawyer. Send your resume to our firm for a free evaluation on NIW and O-1 (info@fengvisa.com) 

Attorney Jing Feng is a decorated immigration lawyer who has been working in immigration for years. She has notable experience in this domain and has successfully gained U.S. residency for thousands of her clients. For more consultation on visa preparation, please contact Jing Feng Law Group, PLLC at jfeng@fengvisa.com or 646-288- 7129. We look forward to hearing from you!