REPORT URGES EXPANSION OF STEM VISAS IN THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, DC - The NAS committee, comprising scientists, professors, and national security experts, recommends that Congress increase employment-based green cards, eliminate country-specific caps for highly skilled immigrant visas, and expand the domestic pipeline in science and engineering. This study, commissioned by the Department of Defense following a Congressional directive, highlights the intense global competition for skilled workers.

According to Immigration Report, a firm specializing in immigration data research, the report’s primary recommendation is to expand the number of green cards for qualified foreign workers. “The document suggests that Congress create more streamlined pathways for international STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professionals to obtain permanent residency and citizenship,” notes Fernando Hessel, founder of Immigration Report. The report also advocates for a new category of green cards with no country limits and no numerical restrictions, extending eligibility to international STEM graduates from U.S. universities.

In 2022, the House of Representatives included a similar provision in the CHIPS and Science Act, which would have exempted annual green card limits for foreigners with doctorates in STEM fields and those with master’s degrees in critical industries. However, Republican Senator Charles Grassley blocked this measure in the Senate, preventing its passage.

Due to current limits on employment-based visas and country-specific caps, over one million Indians are waiting in line to obtain a green card. The H-1B visa system, with an annual cap of only 65,000 new petitions, has proven inadequate to meet demand, with only 25% of applicants receiving approval each year.

Mark Barteau, chairman of the NAS committee, stated that the current U.S. immigration system has made it difficult to retain international talent. He emphasized that flexibility in visa policies is crucial for the country to benefit from these professionals fully.

The NAS report cites various studies demonstrating the benefits of admitting foreign scientists and engineers. Research from the National Foundation for American Policy revealed that over 55% of billion-dollar startups in the U.S. were founded by immigrants and that immigrants have received 40% of the Nobel Prizes awarded to Americans in chemistry, medicine, and physics since 2000.

Furthermore, studies show that the presence of H-1B visa holders is associated with lower unemployment rates and higher wage growth among American graduates. Another study suggests that the shortage of qualified workers in the U.S. has led companies to outsource technology jobs and reduce investment in research and development within the country.

Vinicius Bicalho, CEO and Principal Attorney at Bicalho Legal Consulting P.A. highlights Brazil's academic potential and its relevance to the U.S.: “In 2019, the National Foundation for American Policy reported that, in general, 55% of billion-dollar companies in the U.S. had at least one immigrant founder, including professionals from various countries like Brazil. Additionally, Brazil was responsible for about 1.5% of H-1B visas issued in 2020, which indicates how many Brazilians might be on the path to applying for green cards based on skilled employment,” Bicalho points out.

Fonte: Immigration Report, Fernando Hessel e Bicalho Legal Consulting P.A.