U.S. Immigration focus on Life in the U.S.: For most international students, obtaining a U.S. Green Card is not an easy task, but a shortcut has recently emerged. According to the U.S. newspaper "The China Press," starting October 1st, the U.S. Army's "MAVNI (Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest) Recruitment Program" will be open to international students and work visa holders. Eligible participants can quickly naturalize and become citizens. This policy has sparked widespread attention and heated discussion among international students as soon as it was announced.
In this regard, industry experts state that while enlisting can solve both employment and Green Card issues, there are many restrictions and the competition is quite fierce. International students interested in this should plan early and strengthen their physical training.
Fierce Competition for the Recruitment Program
"Enlisting in the military is indeed a shortcut to achieving one's immigration goals, but the competition is extremely intense." Experts further analyzed that for international students, the U.S. Army's "MAVNI Recruitment Program" states that any legal non-immigrant visa holder aged 17-34, including those with F1 and F2 student visas, J1 and J2 visas, or H1-B work visas, who has maintained legal status for the past two years without leaving the U.S. for more than 90 days, and who meets physical requirements, may submit an application.
"However, the number of new recruits accepted under this program is small. Specifically, the quota for Chinese-English bilingual recruits is generally around one hundred. On the other hand, there are many eligible candidates hoping to naturalize or secure employment opportunities, making the competition very fierce."
It is understood that the "MAVNI Recruitment Program" originally planned to recruit 120 Chinese-English bilingual recruits last year, but this was later reduced to about 60, and the quota was filled in just two months. Experts suggest that students with such intentions should, firstly, closely monitor policy news related to the recruitment program, learn as much as possible about military divisions, and clarify which roles they are qualified for in the military; secondly, they should strengthen their physical training to successfully pass the military physical fitness test. In addition, if a student's major is highly relevant to the positions required by the military, it can increase their chances of being accepted.
Specialized Talent More Likely to Obtain Green Cards
Although the "MAVNI Recruitment Program" has many convenient aspects, many international students believe it still carries certain risks, leading to some hesitation. Industry experts note that besides participating in the recruitment program, there are still many opportunities for international students to stay in the U.S. for employment and obtain a Green Card.
According to experts, international students holding an F-1 visa can apply for a 12-month internship visa before graduation, known as OPT (Optional Practical Training). Graduates whose visas are expiring can use their legal OPT status to intern while looking for a job.
Since the 2007 reform, the OPT visa has changed from a one-time 12-month application per person to an application allowed after completing each higher degree. Experts point out that this reform is highly beneficial for students attending U.S. community colleges. She notes that community colleges have a two-year curriculum; after graduating with an associate degree, students can apply for OPT once, and later, when applying to transfer to a university for their junior and senior years to obtain a bachelor's degree, they can apply for OPT again. "This effectively adds a year of work experience compared to graduates of four-year universities. U.S. employers usually prioritize students with work experience, so community college students should make good use of the graduation season and internship visas to increase their employment leverage."
When OPT expires, students need to apply for an H1B visa (specialty occupation/temporary work visa) to legally remain in the U.S. for work; otherwise, they only have two months to prepare for their return to their home country. The H1B visa must be applied for by the employer. In other words, before the OPT expires, students need to find a job and have the company file an H1B visa application.
Students who obtain an H1B visa can apply for a Green Card after working formally for 1-2 years. Experts state, "From an internship visa to an H1B visa, and then to applying for a Green Card, this is the most conventional and important path for students in the U.S. to obtain a Green Card."
In addition, due to the demand for specialized talent, students graduating from certain STEM majors such as biomedical science, physics, and computer science can obtain an OPT extension of up to 29 months. Experts suggest that students who excel in STEM fields and have immigration aspirations should consider enrolling in such majors. She also points out that in the U.S., accounting is also a very favorable major for immigration; once you pass the North American CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam, a Green Card is within reach.
It is understood that a proposal by the U.S. Senate this March revealed information about the comprehensive relaxation of U.S. high-tech immigration policies—increasing the H-1B visa quota by 50,000 to 65,000 per year, with applicants required to be foreign nationals with "special talents" or "professional knowledge." For the STEM and accounting students mentioned above, this is undoubtedly an excellent immigration channel.