A bipartisan group of the US senate has released its long awaited draft bill on overhauling the US immigration system. While the bill offers pros and cons for international students, educators will welcome a concession to increase the amount of employment-based visas for individuals holding graduate degrees in science fields by 5,000.

The White House and Senate are reaching common ground on the issue of post-study work rights for foreign students. A week after his second inauguration, US President Barack Obama outlined plans to fast-track green cards for skilled science graduates of US universities, with a bipartisan group of senators unveiling similar proposals days earlier.