自2016年5月10日起，STEM专业学生OPT延期延长至24个月，加上首次OPT的12个月，规则生效后STEM专业学生总计OPT时间为三年。STEM专业学生将会有90天的时间，申请额外的7个月OPT延期，从而达到最终24个月的延期;所有非STEM的学生将保持OPT12个月，不涉及变动。本次STEM专业学生OPT延期涉及人数较广，美国国土安全部预估有34,000学生受到新规则的影响。

　　Strengthening and Extending On-the-Job Training for International STEM Graduates of U.S. Universities.

　　Our universities train some of the world’s most talented international students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but our broken immigration system compels many of them to take their skills back to their home countries. We should welcome students from across the globe not only to study here, but also to contribute to the country’s research and development through training opportunities. That’s why President Obama continues to urge Congress to act on commonsense immigration reform.

　　To strengthen educational experiences of today’s international students studying in STEM fields at U.S. universities, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule to expand and extend the use of the existing Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for STEM graduates. The STEM OPT program gives international students who pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees in the U.S. the chance to supplement their classroom education with practical skills training to support a successful career transition. As a result of this final rule:

　　Beginning May 10th, certain international students earning STEM degrees from accredited U.S. universities can stay in the United States for an additional 24 months post-graduation to participate in on-the-job training within the STEM field. The new rule requires international students and employers to develop individualized training plans that enhance students’ educational experience with practical training. (All international students remain eligible for an initial 12 months of OPT, regardless of degree field.)

　　To better protect international students and U.S. workers, the rule includes safeguards to prevent student exploitation and protect the job security of U.S. workers.

　　Ultimately, the final rule lengthens STEM OPT from 17 months to 24 months, allows for two lifetime STEM OPT extensions instead of one, and provides eligibility for non-STEM graduates (e.g., MBAs) to participate in STEM OPT based on a prior STEM degree obtained in the past 10 years at an accredited college or university.

　　DHS estimates that about 34,000 individuals are participating in this program at present, and that the total number of affected students will expand in the coming years.

　　作者：兆龙移民法律团队

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