The current U.S. immigration system is in need of a renewal, especially for young international students who may be interested in pursuing a career in the United States. As an international student about to graduate with my master's degree from St. Louis University in May, I was left with very few options to stay and pursue a career in the United States.
One option was to return to my home country, and the other option was to apply for an optional practical training. OPT allows F-1 students to work for a maximum of one year after graduating. The issue with OPT is that once the year ends, not many employers are willing to sponsor an international student for a working visa (H1-B) who is not in a high demand STEM field. Additionally, it can be a very complicated and there are competitive caps on how many temporary visas are given out each year. This leaves many international students, such as myself, with a lack of options to stay.
The proposed comprehensive immigration reform would significantly help out international students looking to begin their career here in the U.S. The cap of H1-B visas will be increased significantly from 65,000 to 110,000. The H1-B visa only applies to those who are considered “highly educated” and hold a master's or higher. The increase of visa caps would benefit both the U.S. economy and international students. The U.S. would benefit from highly educated, talented and skilled individuals who are willing to work, and international students would benefit from being able to gain experience working long term in the U.S.
Lauren Terzis • St. Louis
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