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Join Sophie for an enlightening conversation with Amy Nice, a distinguished immigration lawyer and policy expert, as we unpack the complexities of STEM immigration policy. Amy shares her invaluable insights into how immigrants with advanced STEM degrees are pivotal to America’s innovation, economic growth, and national security. Amidst the challenges of navigating the U.S. immigration system, Amy’s positive perspective highlights ongoing and potential policy shifts aimed at empowering international scientists and engineers to contribute more effectively within the existing legal framework.
Amy Nice is a leading thinker on STEM immigration focused on using evidence-based research to find practical solutions to immigration policy problems.
She presently focuses her work on policy shifts that support the critical role immigrant scientists, technologists, and engineers play at the intersection of emerging fields, security, economic opportunity, innovation, and tech competition.
She has been an immigration lawyer in Washington, DC for more than 35 years, first in the private practice of law at a big DC law firm – for 20 years, and since 2010 focused on immigration policy. She worked in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy leading efforts on STEM immigration policy from June 2021 to January 2023.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Amy Nice discusses the crucial role of STEM immigrants in driving America’s innovation and economic growth.
- Insights into navigating the complexities and challenges of the U.S. immigration system for high-skilled professionals.
- Examination of the J-1 exchange visitor visa program’s evolution, including updates to the two-year home residency requirement.
- Overview of the H-1B modernization rule, focusing on cap exemptions and the influence of tech leaders on immigration discourse.
- Emphasis on the need for proactive policy shifts to support international scientists and engineers.
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Supporting Resources:
Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nice-amy/
Using the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to Support U.S. Companies in the STEM Ecosystem: https://www.researcherusa.com/ and https://ifp.org/wp-content/uploads/Repository-2-8-2025-USING-THE-J-1-EXCHANGE-VISITOR-VISA-TO-SUPPORT-U.S.-COMPANIES-IN-THE-STEM-ECOSYSTEM.pdf
Everything STEM Researchers in Critical and Emerging Technology Fields Need to Know about the O-1A Visa Category https://ifp.org/o1a-natsec-innovation-base/
https://www.talentmobility.fund/
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