Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-1233
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2025-04-01
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2025-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2095-2096)

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1233 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 1 (legislative day, March 31), 2025 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Rounds , and Mr. King ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide lawful permanent resident status for certain advanced STEM degree holders, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 . 2. Visa requirements (a) Graduate degree visa requirements To be approved for or maintain nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F) ), a student seeking to pursue an advanced degree in a STEM field (as defined in section 201(b)(1)(F)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)(F)(ii) )) (as amended by section 3(a)) for a degree at the master’s level or higher at a United States institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ) must apply for admission prior to beginning such advanced degree program. (b) Strengthened vetting process The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall establish procedures to ensure that aliens described in subsection (a) are admissible pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(A) ). Such procedures shall ensure that such aliens seeking admission from within the United States undergo verification of academic credentials, comprehensive background checks, and interviews in a manner equivalent to that of an alien seeking admission from outside of the United States. To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall also take steps to ensure that such applications for admission are processed in a timely manner to allow the pursuit of graduate education. (c) Reporting requirement The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall submit an annual report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives detailing the implementation and effectiveness of the requirement for foreign graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields to seek admission prior to pursuing a graduate degree program. The report shall include data on visa application volumes, processing times, security outcomes, and economic impacts. 3. Lawful permanent resident status for certain advanced stem degree holders (a) Aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (F) (i) Aliens who— (I) have earned a degree in a STEM field at the master’s level or higher while physically present in the United States from a United States institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) )) accredited by an accrediting entity recognized by the Department of Education; (II) have an offer of employment from, or are employed by, a United States employer to perform work that is directly related to such degree at a rate of pay that is higher than the median wage level for the occupational classification in the area of employment, as determined by the Secretary of Labor; (III) have an approved labor certification under section 212(a)(5)(A)(i); or (IV) are the spouses and children of aliens described in subclauses (I) through (III) who are accompanying or following to join such aliens. (ii) In this subparagraph, the term STEM field means a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics described in the most recent version of the Classification of Instructional Programs of the Department of Education taxonomy under the summary group of— (I) computer and information sciences and support services; (II) engineering; (III) mathematics and statistics; (IV) biological and biomedical sciences; (V) physical sciences; (VI) agriculture sciences; or (VII) natural resources and conservation sciences. . (b) Procedure for granting immigration status Section 204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(F) ) is amended by striking 203(b)(2) and all that follows through Attorney General and inserting 203(b)(2), 203(b)(3), or 201(b)(1)(F) may file a petition with the Secretary of Homeland Security . (c) Labor certification Section 212(a)(5)(D) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(D) ) is amended by inserting section 201(b)(1)(F) or under after adjustment of status under . (d) Dual intent for F nonimmigrants seeking advanced STEM degrees at United States institutions of higher education (1) In general Notwithstanding sections 101(a)(15)(F)(i) and 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i) and 1184(b)), an alien who is a bona fide student admitted to a program in a STEM field (as defined in subparagraph (F)(ii) of section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1) )) for a degree at the master’s level or higher at a United States institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) )) accredited by an accrediting entity recognized by the Department of Education may obtain a student visa, be admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant student, or extend or change nonimmigrant status to pursue such degree even if such alien seeks lawful permanent resident status in the United States. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection may be construed to modify or amend section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) or 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i) or 1184(b)), or any regulation interpreting such authorities for an alien who is not described in this subsection.