Authorisation

a temporary employment authorisation that gives F-1 students an opportunity to get practical work experience -- at present has a limit of 12 months; the extension is being hailed as a victory, however small, for companies including Microsoft and Oracle which had complained of the non-availability of H1-B visas. Compete America, a coalition of corporations, research institutions and trade associations, has welcomed the extension.

The extension is available only to F-1 students with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), who are employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify programme.

E-Verify is a free, Internet-based system operated in partnership with the Social Security Administration, which helps employers determine the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees.

"This rule will enable businesses to attract and retain highly skilled foreign workers, giving US companies a competitive advantage in the world economy," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.