Indian students dominate in US, bag 56% of total US STEM-OPT slots in 2017

Indian students belonging to the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields dominated the participation rate in the US STEM-OPT (Optional Practical Training) programme, under which they are eligible to work in the United States once they obtain their degrees, reports The Times of India.

Indian students, numbering 50,50,  held 56 per cent of the total STEM-OPT authorisations in fiscal 2017. Chinese students had a share of 24 per cent with 21,705. 

International students are eligible for a 12-month OPT in the US. However, those with STEM degrees are eligible for a 24-mpnth extension.

According to the ToI report, these statistics form part of the data released by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is gathered from the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). Amazon, Google, Intel, Facebook, Microsoft and Integra Technologies are some of the top companies which hire STEM-OPT students.