Increasing awareness and use of the Research Scholar visa among U.S. companies, higher education institutions, STEM researchers, immigration attorneys and economic development organizations by building ResearcherUSA.com, a go-to resource on the STEM research initiative, and STEMTalentConnect.com, an online portal that matches U.S. research institutions and companies with international STEM researchers who are seeking research-related employment opportunities in the U.S.

Increasing the uptake of the Researcher Scholar visa in 2025 through marketing efforts and direct sponsorship of visas. As an official Exchange Visitor Program sponsor, Cultural Vistas is on track during the one year grant period to expand sponsorship of participants in the Research Scholar category hosted by companies.

Maximizing awareness and utilization of the Research Scholar visa program by amplifying the reach and impact of STEMTalentConnect.com, an online portal that connects U.S. research institutions and companies with international STEM researchers seeking research-related employment opportunities in the United States. This initiative will target foreign-born STEM research candidates, and U.S. companies to increase candidate registrations and employer engagement with the online portal. It will also involve partnering with EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's network of 400 advising centers in more than 170 countries, in order to expand outreach for international STEM professionals to come to the U.S. to be hosted by companies.

Connecting outstanding displaced STEM professionals with U.S. employers in critical and emerging technology sectors. For its first cohort, Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) will identify displaced STEM PhD holders from TBB’s Talent Catalog, targeting industries like semiconductor manufacturing, green technology, and artificial intelligence.

Expanding access to the Research Scholar visa pathway by empowering small to mid-sized business and underrepresented communities in emerging STEM hubs. This initiative will leverage the Council’s established relationships with mayors, governors, business coalitions, and chambers of commerce across 30 states, including its Global Talent Chamber Network, to increase adoption and facilitate broader participation in the Research Scholar program.

Equipping rural community leaders with the tools, knowledge, and skills to attract and retain foreign-born advanced STEM degree graduates of U.S. universities in rural communities. This initiative involves conducting workshops and providing training on navigating existing visa pathways to retain international tech talent. Additionally, ongoing support will be provided to communities planning to or implementing international tech talent visa pilot programs, empowering them to develop sustainable, long-term strategies.

In 2025, accelerating the attraction and retention of foreign-born STEM degree graduates of U.S. universities and STEM professionals within high demand, critical industries by establishing industry centers of excellence in Manufacturing Technology, Life Sciences, and Healthcare in regional hubs. InSpring will utilize a place-based approach to increase the awareness of existing immigration pathways among employers in regional hubs, including partnering with Path Immigration to promote the O-1A Eligibility Checker. inSpring will enhance the employability of foreign-born STEM professionals, leading to greater retention of this talent regionally. This initiative also includes the deployment of placed-based and industry-based STEM Ambassadors who will amplify their experience leveraging the full range of immigration pathways in order to promote the employment and retention of foreign-born STEM professionals in the regions.

Launching a Science and Technology (S&T) Ecosystems portfolio to strengthen the U.S. S&T talent pipeline by identifying place-based opportunities to retain and integrate international STEM graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. This initiative supports FAS’s effort to strengthen its role in science policy by building organizational capacity and developing strategies to better leverage existing STEM talent pathways. The project will connect international STEM talent to regional innovation ecosystems and contribute to a more robust national S&T infrastructure.

Producing resources and working with university leadership to educate non-citizen students and alumni on immigration pathways to pursue employment in the U.S. after graduation. The Presidents' Alliance has launched a comprehensive resource hub: www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/lptw/.

Bringing together leaders of international student retention programs from across the United States to learn best practices and enhance their programs to better retain international students in the U.S. post-graduation.

Developing a screening tool for non-citizen university students and graduates that educates potential applicants about employment-based immigration pathways. The tool will connect students and graduates with legal case management platforms so that applicants can receive rapid holistic screenings by immigration lawyers. The tool will initially focus on assessing whether applicants are eligible for the H-1B visa and require a D-3 waiver of inadmissibility.

Assessing whether the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has fully implemented the 2022 guidance on O-1A visas, STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT), and National Interest Waivers (NIW). The study will also examine whether USCIS staff require additional training and identify remaining barriers to successful case preparation in utilizing STEM talent policies, including their impact on related pathways, such as the EB-1A green card process.

Prototyping and launching O-1A Pathways, an artificial intelligence (AI) powered eligibility checker for O-1A visa status which will also provide suggestions on how O-1 aspirants can enhance their qualifications.

Scaling up a customer-focused software product to expedite the preparation of O-1A, EB-1A, and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petitions, educating individuals and companies on employment-based visa pathways, and enhancing prospective candidates’ visa eligibility through curated network connections and partnerships.

Conducting a feasibility study and investment case to assess market demand, identify global talent pools, and design training and upskilling platforms to expand the use of underutilized immigration pathways in the U.S. for displaced and underrepresented STEM talent outside the U.S. As part of a global initiative launched at a 2024 convening with the Migration Policy Institute and 17 other organizations, this Bellagio Coalition project will produce a toolkit, including a feasibility comparison and implementation plan for existing employment-based U.S. immigration pathways. The toolkit will support STEM talent and U.S. employers in navigating these pathways and will include a targeted dissemination strategy to reach underrepresented STEM talent. This project represents the U.S. component and the first phase of a broader international effort to enhance labor mobility for STEM and future-critical skills.

Identifying top STEM talent who are International Math and Science Olympiad winners from the Global South to complete a Master’s degree in Data Science from Vedian College. Upon graduation, each individual will secure a research-related position in the U.S. through the Research Scholar visa.