Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a non-quota pathway to lawful permanent residence for U.S.-educated advanced STEM degree holders. It would also require pre-admission checks for foreign STEM graduate students and stronger vetting plus annual reporting by DHS and State on visa processing and impacts.
Show full summary
- International graduate students: Students pursuing a U.S. master's or higher in a STEM field would have to apply for admission before starting the program to qualify for student (F) status. DHS and the Department of State would verify credentials, run background checks, and may interview applicants while reporting annually on visa volumes, processing times, security outcomes, and economic impacts.
- U.S. employers and STEM workers: Graduates with a U.S. STEM master's or higher who have a qualifying job offer at pay above the area median or an approved labor certification would be eligible for permanent residence without counting against numerical limits. The covered STEM fields span seven CIP groups such as computer science, engineering, math, biology, physical sciences, agriculture, and natural resources.
- Families of eligible workers: Spouses and children who accompany or follow to join eligible workers would be included in the non-quota pathway.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New green cards for U.S. STEM grads
If enacted, certain people who earned a U.S. master’s-or-higher STEM degree could get a green card without being limited by annual caps, if they meet set rules. You would need a job offer in work tied to your degree, pay above the area median wage for that job, and an approved labor certification. The degree must be earned while you are in the U.S., from an accredited U.S. school. Fields include areas like computer science, engineering, math, biology, physical sciences, agriculture, and natural resources. Your spouse and children could join you. Some employer petitions could be filed with the Department of Homeland Security.
STEM students could seek green cards
If enacted, qualifying international students in master’s-or-higher STEM programs could get or extend an F student visa even if they plan to seek a green card. This would apply only at accredited U.S. schools. It would not change visa rules for students who are not in these STEM programs.
Stronger vetting for STEM student visas
If enacted, students would need to apply for admission before starting a master’s-or-higher STEM program in the U.S. DHS and the State Department would verify credentials, run background checks, and hold interviews, including for those applying from inside the U.S. Agencies would aim to process cases on time. They would report each year to Congress on visa counts, wait times, security results, and economic impacts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/21/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 4/21/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 1/16/2026
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Liccardo
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov