白宫正式宣布STEM专业学生OPT延长至36个月-新东方前途出国

3月9日，美国白宫正式对外发布信息，在美国攻读STEM专业的国际毕业生OPT在12个月的基础上，额外延长期由17个月增加至24个月，也就是整整三年的时间，是非STEM专业学生的三倍。美国此举也是为了尽可能的挽留理工类人才在美工作，解决高科技人才短缺问题。

该项举措将于2016年5月10日正式实行。在此之前，每个申请人一生只有一次申请STEM OPT的机会，而新的政策实施之后，申请人可有两次机会获得STEM OPT，即使申请人最高学历并非STEM，但只要是在10年内获得过STEM学位都可以进行申请。

美国国土安全部预测目前将有34,000毕业生受到此政策的影响。

白宫关于政策解读原文如下：

Strengthening and Extending On-the-Job Training for International STEM Graduates of U.S. Universities.

Our universities train some of the world’s most talented international students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but our broken immigration system compels many of them to take their skills back to their home countries.  We should welcome students from across the globe not only to study here, but also to contribute to the country’s research and development through training opportunities.  That’s why President Obama continues to urge Congress to act on commonsense immigration reform.

To strengthen educational experiences of today’s international students studying in STEM fields at U.S. universities, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule to expand and extend the use of the existing Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for STEM graduates. The STEM OPT program gives international students who pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees in the U.S. the chance to supplement their classroom education with practical skills training to support a successful career transition.  As a result of this final rule:

·  Beginning May 10th, certain international students earning STEM degrees from accredited U.S. universities can stay in the United States for an additional 24 months post-graduation to participate in on-the-job training within the STEM field. The new rule requires international students and employers to develop individualized training plans that enhance students’ educational experience with practical training. (All international students remain eligible for an initial 12 months of OPT, regardless of degree field.) 

·   To better protect international students and U.S. workers, the rule includes safeguards to prevent student exploitation and protect the job security of U.S. workers.

·   Ultimately, the final rule lengthens STEM OPT from 17 months to 24 months, allows for two lifetime STEM OPT extensions instead of one, and provides eligibility for non-STEM graduates (e.g., MBAs) to participate in STEM OPT based on a prior STEM degree obtained in the past 10 years at an accredited college or university.

·  DHS estimates that about 34,000 individuals are participating in this program at present, and that the total number of affected students will expand in the coming years.

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