Most of the students coming to the USA from India and other nations choose to pursue a STEM related or a STEM designate degree. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The reason for doing so pertains to the additional 2 years of F1 STEM-OPT benefit that the F1 visa grants to individuals studying in a STEM field. This gives newly graduated international students more time to stay in the United States of America before they receive an H1B visa (more popularly known as a work visa).