Education: STEM Degree Programs

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Qualified students now have an expanded list of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degree programs to which they can apply with student visas for OPT (optional practical training) extension. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement made the announcement after President Obama’s speech on immigration reform in El Paso, Texas and is expected to address manpower shortages in key areas such as neuroscience, medical informatics, pharmaceutics and drug design. The OPT program allows foreign students who have graduated to apply for an additional 12 months of of work experience. A key point about the new areas of expansion is that students who graduate with one of the new STEM degrees can apply for a 17 month OPT extension.