Janet Napolitano, DHS Secretary, is behind the initiative

This means a promise to review regulatory policy, streamline visa applications and expand government relationships with academia in a bid to channel more foreign graduates into science and technology jobs – something the US sees as critical to maintaining its economic edge in the face of increasing competition from Asia and other developing markets.

Speaking earlier this year, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano said, “Foreign students and exchange visitors bring invaluable contributions to our nation, and the Study in the States initiative is an important step in empowering the next generation of international entrepreneurs, right here in America.”

In the last decade, the US has struggled to fill jobs in its science and technology sector with domestic graduates due to the diminishing popularity of science as a subject. Those from abroad – in particular Asia, which now produces a quarter of the world’s skilled science graduates – have stepped in to fill the breach, drawn by America’s world-leading universities and jobs in innovation hubs such as Silicon Valley.

The initiative also hopes to build upon existing policies to get more foreign graduates into US jobs

Now, with a flagging job market and Asia’s economies flourishing, some fear the US is in danger of losing its allure as a place to study and work. 

While Study in the States offers no immediate changes to legislation, it promises to find creative ways to clear recruitment bottlenecks. One such is the Study in the States website, which provides students with information on issues such as visas, citizenship and employment in a user-friendly “one-stop shop”, rather than through numerous federal department websites as happened before. 

The initiative also hopes to build upon existing policies to get more foreign graduates into US jobs, such as last year’s extension to the rights of some students to remain in the country for up to 29 months after graduation to find work.

Another proposal is to improve coordination between federal departments and the International Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which was set up to ensure students abide by the terms of their visas.

The DHS told the PIE News that its goal was to strike a balance, providing an open and welcoming experience for international students and visitors seeking information, while maintaining the integrity and security of the visa process.