The United States will ease work-based nonimmigrant visas for students who graduated from accredited higher education institutions in the US and have received a job offer, the White House has announced.
This means that applicants who qualify under this scheme would receive nonimmigrant visas faster, VisaGuide.World reports.
The initiative, which includes DACA recipients, aims to retain foreign talent in the country, among other things.
Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that individuals who are educated in the US are able to use their skills and education to benefit our country, the Administration is taking action to facilitate the employment visa process for those who have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA policy, was introduced in 2012 by former US President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden. This immigration program aims to protect from deportation individuals who arrived in the US as children, granting them several benefits.
Twelve years later, DACA recipients who started as high school and college students are now building successful careers and establishing families of their own.
Further details regarding this scheme are expected to be shared soon.
Biden Announces New Plan to Shield Undocumented Spouses of US Citizens From Deportation
In addition to the above-mentioned announcement, Biden has recently introduced a new plan that would grant US citizenship to half a million immigrants.
If implemented, certain undocumented spouses of US citizens would be entitled to apply for permanent residency and citizenship. Eligible applicants must have lived in the US for at least ten years and be married to a US citizen as of June 17, 2024.
Such an initiative would help the US immigration system become less unfair and unjust for immigrants, according to Biden.
US Granted Over 472,000 Student Visas in 2023
Several graduates may benefit if the above-mentioned proposal takes effect, given that US colleges and universities remain among the favorite educational institutions for foreign students worldwide.
In 2023, the US embassy and consulate offices received 749,461 student visa applications, including F1 and F2 visas. 472,262 applications were approved, while the rest, 277,199, were refused, as indicated by the official data.
Indian students accounted for the highest number of granted visas, with 134,888 approved applications in 2023. They were followed by China (87,630), South Korea (17,930), Vietnam (14,739) and Bangladesh (10,311).