H-1B Visa Expansion: Thanedar Bill Aims to Keep STEM Graduates in US

Washington, Jul 13 (PTI) Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has introduced legislation aimed at encouraging promising foreign students to stay in the US after their studies by expanding the availability of H-1B visas, the most sought-after by Indian IT professionals.

Thanedar, a Democrat, Congressman Thanedar used his personal experience to affirm the importance of this legislation.

“As an immigrant whose educational opportunities in the US shaped all the subsequent opportunities I received, I understand the importance of keeping our most gifted students in the country,” India-born Thanedar said in a statement on Friday.

Keep STEM Graduates in America Act proposes reforms to the H-1B visa process and raises the number of available visas each year to make staying in the United States more accessible for individuals capable of contributing to our industry and economy, a media release said.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Thanedar said that the bill expands “the availability of H-1B visas and making the process to obtain one more simple, we take an important and tangible step towards a future where those students with the most potential to innovate will innovate in the US.”

According to his office, the US Congress found that foreign students pursuing an education in technology and the sciences have significantly contributed to overall innovation and growth in the US Congressman.

Thanedar has placed heavy emphasis on the visa process for STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) graduates, thus placing hardworking, merited students at the forefront of his efforts.

The Indian American community has welcomed the legislative move.

“We applaud Congressman Thanedar for submitting this much-needed bill to retain foreign STEM graduates in the US by providing them an extension in Optional Practical Training,” said Khanderao Kand, Chief of Policy and Strategy, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS)

"With this bill, they (students) will get more time to find a job and more time before till they get H-1B so that they can find an appropriate opportunity to the best way to contribute in the US technology and economy,” he said.

In a statement, FIIDS voiced support for the legislation: “We thank Congressman Thanedar for introducing this very important bill to retain US-trained STEM graduates. About 300,000 Indian students and millions of foreign students will benefit from this bill."

"It's a crucial bill as in the tough job market, they need more time to find appropriate opportunities to contribute to the US economy," it said.