USA Immigration News

Texas Universities Back New Bill for Work Visas for Tech Graduates

On May 15, 2012, U.S. Senator John Cornyn introduced legislation to Congress to boost U.S. economic competitiveness.

The bill called the "STAR Act of 2012", introduced by Senator Cornyn - the senior Republican on a panel on oversees immigration, would allocate 55,000 visas each year to foreign graduates from U.S. universities holding Master's degrees or Ph.D's in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, by allowing them to opt for dual intent when entering the U.S.

Those visas would be taken from the current "diversity visa" program that provides opportunities for individuals from countries with low historical rates of immigration to the U.S.

Cornyn's bill to increase the number of visas issued to highly skilled workers in STEM fields is said to be of importance for U.S. technology companies that want to improve access to an international pool of workers and fill the shortage in skilled labor in this country.

"I am confident the STAR Act will bolster American competitiveness and provide a stronger foundation for long-term development in STEM. It would also streamline the green card process for STEM economic growth and job creation," Cornyn said.

Previously, there were complaints from Texas high-technology companies that foreign graduates with degrees in mathematics and engineering were returning to their home countries to start up competing business because they could not legally stay and work in the U.S.

"In the global competition for the world's best and brightest minds in math and science, the United States should take a backseat to no one," stated Cornyn.

The written STAR Act of 2012 has received some promise of bipartisan support as both candidates for the next presidential elections have adopted official stances supporting policies that would attract overseas graduates in STEM fields to stay in the U.S.

The bill has also received support from Texas universities, including Texas A&M University, Rice University and Texas Tech University.