In IT Recruiting, we deal a lot with talented professionals who are working here in the U.S. on a visa so it’s important that we stay in the loop with the latest laws and regulations. I’ve found many candidates I speak with don’t really even know enough about the visa process themselves…
Hopefully the requirement for them to only get an extension for attending an accredited university will add to their credibility in an employer’s eyes. There is no doubt a lot of talented foreign professionals here in the U.S. (especially in the technology field), but with complicated laws and professional/educational backgrounds that seem to be easy to fake (yet difficult to verify), there are a lot of barriers to getting foreign professionals placed in to direct hire roles.
The rule, which only applies to students studying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), requires them to attend accredited universities in order get the visa extension. Those who attend unaccredited schools can only stay in the U.S. for one year.
