On December 20, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidelines on non-immigrant visas for F and M students, covering multiple topics such as application requirements, transfers, internship training, and employment on and off campus, providing clearer policy support for international students.
Interpretation of the latest policies.
1. The new policy unlocks the green card pathway for F-1 international students.
In the past, F-1 status was theoretically considered not to allow immigrant tendencies, and many companies even used this as a reason to refuse to initiate the green card process for OPT employees. Therefore, most graduates in the United States still take the "F-1 OPT H1B green card" path. However, the difficulty of winning the H1B visa has become a pain point, and the number of H1B visa applications received this year is as high as 780,000, and the winning rate is only 146%。The new policy makes it clear that F-1 international students do not need to worry about restrictions on immigration propensity, as long as they indicate that they remain outside the U.S. and do not intend to permanently abandon their original citizenship. This means that international students applying for a green card while studying or on OPT will not affect their status, and they will not be denied or repatriated even if they re-enter the country after returning to their home country or leaving the United States. 
Add**Notes, no more than 140 words (optional)2, benefits designed for STEM majors.
For international students majoring in STEM, the new policy brings additional good news. During the OPT phase, international students majoring in STEM can choose to work in a start-up company, as long as the employer complies with the training program requirements, maintains good standing in e-verify, and provides the same pay as U.S. employees. This policy will create more favorable conditions for startups to attract more foreign talent. 
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3. Key points of green card application for international students.
Although the new policy relaxes the restrictions on green card applications for F-1 students, not all international students can apply for a green card directly. Only individuals of extraordinary ability who fall under the EB-1A and NIW categories under EB-2 and do not require employer support can file a direct employment-based green card application. The vast majority of international students still require an application from an employer. 
Add **Notes, no more than 140 words (optional)The U.S. has recently released a series of policies to actively seek to retain top talent. The executive order on artificial intelligence signed by Biden** indicates that the United States will make AI a key direction of the country and create more opportunities for recruiting talents related to artificial intelligence. This is good news for international students studying in the U.S. related to artificial intelligence majors and professionals in the global AI field. Biden's aggressive immigration policy will help expand the ability of highly skilled immigrants and nonimmigrants with expertise in key areas to study, reside, and work in the United States, and provide more opportunities for international students and practitioners in the AI field. 
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Under the new policy framework, international students will usher in a broader world of development. The flexibility of this policy has created more choices for international students. Let's look forward to more opportunities for international students brought by this policy change, and contribute to building a more open and inclusive international society. In this dynamic era, I hope that every international student can bravely climb the peak of science and harvest their own wonderful life.