If America is truly the land of opportunity, why do so many international students leave after they graduate with a Bachelors Degree?
About 90% of international students leave the United States after they graduate and the #1 cited reason these students leave is because of Visa Restrictions.
This means that the government no longer allows these students to stay legally. But what is it about the student visas that make it so hard for you to stay after graduation?
To better understand this, you need to know a little bit about the visas that are offered to students.
There are 3 types of student Visas that qualify you for an education in the United States M-1, J-1 and F-1.
The M-1 visa which qualifies you for vocational work, think automotive, electrical, construction jobs. etc.. These are more labor intensive or technical jobs and the program lengths vary from 1-3 years.
The J-1 visa is primarily for those who want to do a study and work experience program, or student exchange program, However The student does not have the option to stay in the USA after they graduate. They must leave the country after 30 days from graduation. They may not return to the USA for 2 years after that.
That leaves the F-1 Visa.
So It turns out this is the most common student Visa. It is less restrictive than the J-1, you can work on campus for 20 hours a week for the first year, then you can work off campus after that.
You must be enrolled to Study at a college or university, and you also have the option to stay in the USA after you finish your studies.
However, this is where the difficulty begins.
Once you graduate, you will have 60 days to leave the Country before your f-1 visa expires.
That’s right…. 60 days.
The purpose of your F-1 visa is not for you to stay in the USA unless you prove that you have skills that are useful. In fact during the Visa application process, one of the requirements is that the student has is to retain a place of permanent residence outside the U.S. which they will return to after graduation.
AND…
…during the interview process, the student may be asked to prove that they have a place to return to. Ok ok you get the idea…. They do not want you to stay unless you are contributing to the economic system.
Ok, so how do you get to stay?
I mean 90% leave the country by choice or by force after they graduate right?
For those without STEM Majors (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) MAJORS – There is a program called OPT (Optional Practical Program).
The OPT program allows students to stay 12 months, if you have a qualified Internship, work-study program, or a job related to your study.
For those with STEM majors, this Optional Practical Program can be extended for 24-36 months.
For the student to qualify for the OPT program, they must be sponsored by an organization or company to stay in the United States and do something related to their field of study.
If you are a non STEM international student approved for the OPT program, it can be incredibly competitive and difficult to find a job. Remember, these companies will employ you for one year and..
once your OPT permit expires, you must return home.
There is no option for extension. Since companies know this, they are less likely to take the time to sponsor and train someone for a year only for them to leave the company so quickly.
If you are an international student with a STEM degree, you have a better chance of staying since your OPT can be extended for up to an additional 2 years. Companies might be willing to give you a chance to prove your worth and talent, and even potentially sponsor you for an H1-B work visa if they feel that what you offer is difficult to replace.
Even if the company sponsors you for an H1-B work visa, your stay is not guaranteed. Because so many people are trying to stay and live in the USA, the program is extremely competitive and your name will be put into a lottery which is drawn once a year.
Bachelors degree holders have about a 25% chance to getting drawn, while advanced degrees have about a 40% chance of being drawn for an H1-B Visa.
Therefore:
This is why most international students are unable to stay in the USA after their studies. The VISA environment makes it incredibly difficult for the student to stay.
The benefits of studying abroad in America is great. A top tier education with exposure to the most cutting edge research institutions and startups in the world. The ability to pick up a skillset that can enjoy incredible rewards anywhere in the world. In fact, it is very common for other countries to try and steal the talent that the USA is unable to keep. Studying in the USA will certainly open up doors to other countries
See how Australia and Canada are stealing International U.S. graduates.
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