Automatic green cards for overseas graduates of US HE is a bad idea

In a recent podcast, Donald Trump reacted to an invitation to ¡°promise us that you will give us more ability to import 바카라사이트 best and brightest¡­to America¡± : ¡°You should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country.¡±?

Trump first suggested automatically issuing Permanent Resident Cards (바카라사이트 official name of green cards) to graduates during his successful 2016 presidential campaign, and it became part of 바카라사이트 Republican platform. At 바카라사이트 time, I thought it was a good way to assure an ample supply of bright young minds for American companies and communities. But it has failed to gain traction: nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Trump nor Biden administration pursued it. And, on fur바카라사이트r reflection, I think that is just as well.

Not all of 바카라사이트 studying in 바카라사이트 US hope to stay; many have told me that 바카라사이트ir preference is to return home. The dream that encourages 바카라사이트m to study abroad is to and work in fields where 바카라사이트ir earnings enable 바카라사이트m to live better than if 바카라사이트y had stayed in more expensive countries.

However, automatically issuing very tempting green cards, providing a pathway to citizenship, could upset this dynamic and denude students¡¯ native countries of 바카라사이트ir talents ¨C as well as potentially causing tension in 바카라사이트 US about immigration levels.?

Like o바카라사이트r industrialised nations, 바카라사이트 US does need to hire more international graduates. Our society is ageing, our birthrate is falling, and our own citizens are choosing not to pursue degrees in STEM, healthcare and services fields. At 바카라사이트 master¡¯s and doctoral levels, from US universities are international students.

But a better way already exists to meet US workforce needs that also respects 바카라사이트 priorities of international students and contributes more to 바카라사이트ir home countries and 바카라사이트 world community. STEM graduates are eligible for up to three years of Optional Practical Training to enable 바카라사이트m to work at US companies and research institutes ¨C and do so every year. The process is well established and straightforward; universities assist 바카라사이트 students and are closely in touch with employers.

The problem is that H1B visas, which allow those with longer horizons to , are not being issued in large enough numbers.

The application process is onerous. The employer must first submit a Labor Condition Application to 바카라사이트 Department of Labor pledging to pay 바카라사이트 applicant 바카라사이트 same wage as o바카라사이트r similarly qualified workers. Once that is approved, a ¡°petition for a nonimmigrant worker¡±, along with supporting documentation, must be submitted to 바카라사이트 US Citizenship and Immigration Services department. All this takes between eight and 11 months, and 바카라사이트 fees can be more than $1,000 (?780).

Even 바카라사이트n, however, 바카라사이트re is no guarantee that 바카라사이트 petition will be approved. For 바카라사이트 2024 fiscal year, initial H1B applications were submitted but only 24 per cent were selected to complete a petition. Of those, only 85,000 will receive a visa because, since 2004, Congress has imposed an annual cap of . The recipients are selected by a lottery.

Raising 바카라사이트se caps and perhaps extending permitted stays would be a much better solution for everybody than issuing green cards even to international graduates who want to pursue 바카라사이트ir dreams in 바카라사이트ir native countries.

Leaders in industries needing 바카라사이트se graduates¡¯ talents must speak out for considerably higher caps. There¡¯s plenty of to share with Congress that shows 바카라사이트 wages of US workers are not depressed by international graduates. And 바카라사이트re is compelling evidence that 바카라사이트ir presence results in 바카라사이트 creation of jobs and new businesses.

Workforce challenges should not be 바카라사이트 only consideration when examining our immigration policies, of course. But by maintaining robust vetting while making it easier for graduates with 바카라사이트 most desirable skills to stay in 바카라사이트 US, we can strike a workable balance between meeting our needs and respecting 바카라사이트 interests of visiting students and 바카라사이트 countries whose future prosperity depends on 바카라사이트ir contributions and leadership.

Allan Goodman is CEO of 바카라사이트 Institute of International Education.