US visa changes aim to attract and retain foreign Stem students

An image showing Joe Biden

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Biden administration announces new pathways for international students to remain for longer after graduation

The White House has announced a new multi-pronged plan to attract foreign students in Stem fields to the US and entice them to stay to continue research work after completing their degrees. The plan was welcomed by US higher education groups.

Under the Biden administration’s new strategy, announced on 21 January, the US State Department will double the amount of time that students on exchange visitor J-1 visas have to participate in post-graduate academic training in the US – increasing it from 18 months to 36.