OK, here's a deal I have to offer...

As for me, I am on OPT, a nursing graduate. Unfortunately nursing major did not make it to the STEM list. The STEM extension were for those who were deemed extremely talented in the fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics...maybe nursing or any of you all degrees are not considered to be STEM. However, in the OPT extention release document they do mention "critical shortage areas that cannot be filled by US workers..." and here is something you all maybe able to do, might not mean anything but its something we all can definitely try! Please go to:

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm

This website provides a list of STEM degrees...I do not want you to read the whole list but notice in the third paragraph they say:

"To suggest a change to the list of STEM designated degrees, write to SEVIS.Source@dhs.gov, with STEM Code Change Request in the subject line. Please include your name, phone number, organizational affiliation, the code(s) you would like to see added and the rationale for the addition. Change requests will be reviewed by ICE in conjunction with the Department of Education and other advisors."

What I did and urged my friends to do was we e-mailed the above address to add my major to the STEM list and gave a rationale as mentioned above. The STEM code for nursing is 51. 1601 and put this in the subject line to be added to the STEM list so we can get the 29 months OPT as well because of retrogression in nursing, and due to this fact why employers are not hiring us.

Again, this might not do anything, but we would have at least tried!!!

The STEM code for your major can be found on your I-20 where it says OPT was applied for. The organizational affiliation would be your college/university. As for me, I don't know how long I will have to wait until regrogression lifts, no one knows how many years, they even removed schedule A for nurses because of overwhelming number of applications more than they could handle. This means I will have to go back to school to maintain my status...like for many of you...This would at least give me some time throughout retrogression and hopefully find an employer who will hire me...

I already e-mailed them (please make it high priority) and please make sure you type the address as it is shown or else it will not go through.

Also, I would like to know who all e-mailed, so just reply to this thread and simply say that you e-mailed and please mention your degree. If you think this is a good idea, then do not limit it, ask your friends to do so too...

Again, the worst that could happen is they might not do anything about it, but who knows?

Thanks!