The United States has encouraged the immigration of professionals who work in fields that are part of STEM – the English acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Currently, the country offers people the chance to work legally for about five years if they study in one of these fields.
In this regard, according to Alessandra Crisanto, executive director of Study and Work USA, a company specialized in providing consultations to Brazilians interested in studying in the United States, it is essential to pay attention to the correct visa to study in the country.
According to him, there are a few types of visas that Brazilians can obtain to study in the United States. One of them is the Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which allows students to gain internships and job experience while enrolled.
Another permission is Optional Practical Training (OPT). The advantage is that after successfully completing the studies, you are able to work in that field. The maximum period of stay for this option is 12 months.
However, students on some STEM courses have OPT STEM. This is a version of the normal OPT but with an extended period of stay, allowing the student to stay for up to 26 months after the end of the course.
“Students can have work experience during classes and since the courses are STEM, the government allows them to stay for up to 3 years after finishing work,” says Crisanto.
Brazilians in the United States
The interest of Brazilians in the United States is very high. According to a survey by AG Immigration, an immigration law firm based in Washington DC, the number of professionals from Brazil immigrating to the country in 2022 broke a record, reaching a 13-fold increase compared to the previous year.
The poster says immigrants make the United States great (Photo: Michael Reynolds/Agencia Lusa)
According to the study, 1,983 EB-1 and EB-2 visas were granted, which are visas created to attract qualified professionals to the United States.
In addition, the report “Trending STEM-Related Petitions” revealed that there was an increase in the approval of O-1A petitions for professionals in this field.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2022 more than 1.9 million Brazilians lived in the United States, with New York, Boston and Miami being the cities with the highest number of Brazilians.
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