Study In US: STEM OPT Program Expanded, Check Out New Fields!

International students now have more options to acquire real-world job experience in the US. This is because of STEM OPT program expanded (Optional Practical Training) programme.

With an aim to draw highly talented foreign nationals from countries, like Canada. The STEM OPT programme has added eight new disciplines of study.

Newly added fields US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced their modification. Changes made to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Programme List in a Federal Register notice slated for publication on July 12, 2023.

STEM OPT Program Expanded

A 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training in STEM subjects is now available to international students in F-1 status, and the upgrade includes the inclusion of eight qualified fields of study. OPT used to permit 12 months of practical training.

Before 2022, the Biden administration added 22 additional qualified disciplines of study to the STEM OPT programme. Additionally, this includes cloud computing, anthropology, and climate science. This action is to draw in overseas students looking for real-world work experience in their professions.

Fields That Have Been Added

The eight new academic disciplines added to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Programme List are as follows:

• Institutional Research
• Landscape Architecture
• Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/Technician
• Composite Materials Technology/Technician
• Linguistics and Computer Science
• Developmental and Adolescent Psychology
• Geospatial Intelligence
• Demography and Population Studies

Also, the US is increasing the number of STEM-related fields that are eligible for OPT. Canada is too taking steps to draw in high-skilled foreign nationals. This is happening by enabling up to 10,000 H-1B visa holders to get open work permits.

Additionally, international students will have more options to get real-world job experience in the US. All thanks go to the Biden administration’s decision to expand the subjects that qualify for STEM OPT.

For more such exciting news updates, also make sure you contact Leverage Edu to start your study abroad Journey.