I'm not sure if this post belongs here, but I'm not sure there's another platform like Reddit where I can get a candid response without being called a bunch of names. I was supposed to start my Master's degree in a really good University this fall but due to the uncertainty, I'm not sure I can. I will be starting on an F-1 visa and there are a lot of rumours about the STEM OPT program being canned, possibly. With the suspension of H1B and the possibility of a Merit-based H1B system, this will probably hinder mine, and thousands of others' plans of paying back the huge investment on a degree in the US and the possibility of a reasonable amount of savings before moving back. There a lot of US citizens who say that immigrants really helped the economy and that US is a country for immigrants. There are also citizens who immediately attack you on any public forum when you try to understand the effects of the new EO by saying things like "If we employ 3rd world, we'll become 3rd world" and "OPT students are thieves". I'm trying to understand whether the suspension of H1B (and possibly STEM OPT) actually benefits American citizens. Are the jobs for American citizens actually being hindered by these programs or is the government trying to make short-sighted and radical changes before the upcoming election? There are two reasons I want to know. One reason is, I've worked very hard to get into the program of my choice and I'd hate to feel like I'm upstaging someone else's career in their own country just because of my nationality or because I'm "cheap" labour. Secondly, my investment as an international student is like 3x that of an American student for the same program. It's a lot of money to potentially invest to feel like an outcast or a thief. I hope you all indulge my request, even though it may not be like the other posts on this sub.
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/immigration/comments/hhxa5r/h1b_suspension_merit_based_h1b_system_and_stem/