u/Western-Scholar-5259

Hello! I’m an international student admitted to a master’s in genetic counseling in the US, and I’m trying to understand how realistic different long-term pathways are for staying in the US workforce.

If someone leaves the US after graduation (for example, due to a two-year home residency requirement) and later wants to re-enter the US job market, is it still realistic to get hired directly from abroad on an H-1B? Or does leaving make it significantly harder compared to staying continuously in the US through OPT/STEM OPT?

Do you know any genetic counselors who were hired directly from their home country on an H-1B without having previously worked for that same employer in the US, or whether most successful cases come from people who stayed in the US and transitioned internally from OPT?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been admitted to a graduate program in Genetic Counseling in the US, and I’m trying to understand what the real experience looks like for international students after graduation.

I’m an international student, and I’m a bit worried about how realistic it is to find a job after finishing the program and then be able to stay in the US through OPT, STEM OPT, and eventually H-1B sponsorship.

I’ve read the official information, but I’m looking for real experiences from people who have actually gone through this process, especially in healthcare or similar fields. I’d really appreciate hearing how it actually worked in practice, how long it took to find a job, and whether staying in the US after graduation was realistically achievable.

Any insight from your experience would mean a lot. Thanks!!