America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010! U.S. STEM Advance Degree Immigration!

06/03/2010: House Passed on 05/28/2010 a Bill H.R. 5116 Which Includes U.S. STEM Advance Degree Immigration Recommendation

* Last Friday, the House passed a bill "The America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010." This bill included an immigration provision which was sponsored by Re. Jeff Flake of Arizona by H.Amdt. 650 79. This provision recommended retaining of graduate-level talent trained at American universities in STEM fields for enhancing the competitiveness of American businesses. This legislation received a strong bi-partisan support. Please stay tuned to this website for further information and development of this legislative bill in the Senate. The Senate is currently on recess and will return on June 7, 2010, Monday. There is no information available about the Senate schedule to take up this bill, but considering a strong bi-partisan concensues on this legislation, it may not take too long before the Senate acts on this bill.

It is the sense of Congress that retaining graduate-level talent trained at American universities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields is critical to enhancing the competitiveness of American businesses.

I spoke to lawyer regarding this bill and he said this was a good first step. Anyone who gets masters degree and a dependent of a applicant of EB1 EB2 or EB3 under 245i and under a backlog can streamline the process. Those who are independent might get separate EB category. Its suppose to most likely to pass in the senate as well. This is positive news. Now we got to see if we can get the the Dream Act attached to this bill in the senate. Which might work.

this is sounding really good you guys!!!

This sounds amazing, keep up the good work you guys!!!

In other words there is no predicted process of application under this (which only passed the house so far).

would an MBA degree work?

Wow, You guys want to hear something ridiculous in relation to this.

I'm 3rd year into my PhD. I have paid for all the classes out of my own pocket, and am doing research at a govt. lab for free, yet no school will ever grant me a degree without papers, in my field. (Yes, I have already explained my situation to them many many times) What's funnier is that they have no problem with my working, or "volunteering" as they like to call it to make themselves feel better, at a lab that's under the supervision of the federal govt nonetheless, even though I'm undocumented. However, when it comes to doing something as simple as signing a paper that would grant me a degree they don't seem to be able to do that.

The reason I'm saying this is because in my field, there is really no way to get a Masters Degree. Basically you go for a PhD. and you can only get MS if a) if you only pass your Grad. Exam at Masters level and the school doesn't advance you to candidacy or b) some exigent circumstances prevent you from continuing your studies. So basically they are putting me in a loop, because I can't get my degree as long as I don't have papers because they can't me officially in their system , and I can't get my situation fixed through sponsorship without at least an MS degree (I'm under 245i).

so if this new bill or ammendment, passes the senate and is signed by the president, does that mean that ANY ONE who has at least a master's in science, engineering, math, etc. can get legal status or only those who are here under current student visas?? I am 2 weeks away from completing my last 3 courses at ucla for structural engineering.

The easiest way for dream to pass is to attach it to a bill in committee.

what is your field then?

Atomic Physics