Re: [北美 Opt up to 29 months? - 海外工作

※ 引述《mno3195 (Alumni)》之銘言：
: 網上看來的
: 近期有可能實施嗎?
: 似乎想留住國際學生?
號外！號外！
剛剛AILA收到的DHS新聞稿！
http://aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=25123

Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Press Release
April 4, 2008
Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010
17-MONTH EXTENSION OF OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR
CERTAIN HIGHLY SKILLED FOREIGN STUDENTS
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released today an
interim final rule extending the period of Optional Practical Training (OPT)
from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension
will be available to F-1students with a degree in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics who are employed by businesses enrolled in
the E-Verify program.

“This rule will enable businesses to attract and retain highly skilled
foreign workers, giving U.S. companies a competitive advantage in the
world economy,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “By
extending the training period by an additional 17 months to students who
are employed by businesses enrolled in E-Verify, we are further ensuring
a legal workforce in the U.S. and aiding good corporate citizens.” Another
aspect of the rule responds to the situation in which an F-1 student’s
status and work authorization expires before he or she can begin employment
under the H-1B visa program. The interim final rule addresses this problem
by automatically extending the period of stay and work authorization for
all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions. The rule will also implement
certain programmatic changes, including allowing students to apply for OPT
within 60 days of graduation.

To be eligible for an OPT extension, an F-1 non-immigrant student must:
** Currently be participating in a 12-month period of approved
post-completion OPT;
** Have successfully completed a degree in science, engineering,
technology, or mathematics (STEM) included in the DHS STEM Designated
Degree Program List from a college or university certified by the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program;

** Be working for a U.S. employer in a job directly related to the
student’s major area of study;

** Be working for, or accepted employment with, an employer enrolled
in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ E-Verify program. E-Verify
is a free, internet-based system operated in partnership with the Social
Security Administration that helps employers to determine the employment
eligibility of newly-hired employees; and

** Properly maintain F-1 status.
The interim final rule and additional information on the H-1B program is
available at http://www.dhs.gov.

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