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Right here’s one other version of “Ask Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at know-how firms.
“Your questions are important to the unfold of data that enables individuals everywhere in the world to rise above borders and pursue their goals,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration legal professional. “Whether or not you’re in individuals ops, a founder or in search of a job in Silicon Valley, I’d like to reply your questions in my subsequent column.”
TechCrunch+ members obtain entry to weekly “Ask Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to buy a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off.
Pricey Sophie,
I used to be accepted right into a prestigious robotics engineering grasp’s program within the U.S. that begins within the fall! Nevertheless, I heard the denial charge for F-1 pupil visas is rising. Why?
How can I enhance my probabilities of being authorised?
— Quickly-to-Be Scholar
Pricey Quickly-to-Be,
Thanks for finding out within the States! The U.S. wants and appreciates worldwide college students such as you. This visa adjudication change will value billions to the U.S. economic system, and it’s a step backward with tech job vacancies rising and the swift rise of a number of rising applied sciences. The USA is in essential want of worldwide college students like your self to assist our safety and economic system to stay aggressive all through this century.
I’ve acquired numerous ideas and techniques for you, however earlier than I dive in, some excellent news: Earlier this week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) held an extra random choice spherical — or lottery — among the many H-1B registrations that had been submitted however not chosen within the March lottery to fulfill the annual cap of 85,000 H-1B visas. The USCIS has notified the extra 77,609 registrations that had been chosen. (The USCIS chosen 110,791 registrations in March.)
The second choice spherical may point out that the variety of cap-subject H-1B functions that the USCIS anticipated to obtain by the June 30 deadline fell wanting estimates, or, most likely much less possible, that the company denied H-1B functions at a better charge than anticipated. Decreased petitions would have possible stemmed from a mix of some persevering with layoffs in addition to the identical candidates being entered into the lottery a number of instances by separate firms, a change that the American Immigration Legal professionals Affiliation has proposed to DHS, which lately issued a short response.
The F-1 is a good way to study and develop in america. Learning within the U.S. and finishing your diploma additionally presents the chance to work in your area via F-1 OPT (non-compulsory sensible coaching) and STEM OPT, the two-year extension of OPT. Final month, robotics engineering and 7 different fields of examine, together with institutional analysis and composite supplies know-how, had been added to the STEM Designated Diploma Program Record, now making you eligible for STEM OPT!
Now, about these declining F-1 approval charges — you’re right: In response to the Cato Institute, the denial charge for F-1 pupil visas jumped to an “unprecedented” 35% in 2022, in comparison with the 14% denial charge in all different nonimmigrant (momentary) visa classes, which embrace the H-1B specialty occupation visa and the O-1A extraordinary means visa. Earlier than 2021, F-1 pupil functions had the same denial charge as different nonimmigrant visa functions. Nevertheless, in 2021 and 2022, F-1 visas had been denied at double the speed of all different nonimmigrant visas.
College students can apply for an F-1 visa solely after they’ve been accepted into an authorised college program, so “[t]his signifies that the U.S. Division of State turned down 220,676 college students who would have possible paid roughly $30,000 per yr or $6.6 billion per yr in tuition and residing bills,” writes David Bier, the writer of the Cato Institute report. “Over 4 years, that quantity rises to $26.4 billion in misplaced financial advantages to america.”
Let me dive into your questions, beginning with the why.
Why is the F-1 denial charge rising?
The State Division doesn’t specify the explanations for denying an F-1 visa. Nevertheless, most consular officers deny nonimmigrant visas once you fail to show in your visa interview that you’ve nonimmigrant intent, which suggests you solely intend to stay within the U.S. briefly and ultimately plan to return to your house nation.
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