Read.Watch.Listen. The Foreign-Born Engineer Experience
- SE3 Committee
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
July 2026 Issue
A monthly forum to share diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.
Welcome to the next installment of Read.Watch.Listen. This month, we will dive in and learn about the various experiences and challenges that face foreign-born engineers living and working in the United States. This is a topic that becomes more relevant with each passing year- the percentage of the engineering workforce made up of foreign-born workers rose from 15% in 2000 to 20% in 2020, and continues to rise (American Immigration Council). Additionally, foreign-born STEM workers make up much higher percentages of advanced degree holders, with more than double the rate of degrees held compared to US-born STEM workers, with most foreign-born students who obtain degrees in the US opting to stay and work (National Science Foundation). However, despite the prevalence of foreign-born individuals in the structural engineering community, there remain many obstacles and issues. From visa restrictions to workplace discrimination and cultural clashes, immigrant engineers face problems that are unfamiliar and largely invisible to their US-born peers. In this article, we explore resources for learning about these issues and supporting foreign-born engineers on an individual and systemic level. For more on this topic, be sure to register for the Bridging the Gap preconference at the NCSEA Summit, where an immigration attorney will address specifics regarding employment of non-US citizens at structural engineering firms!
Image via Magnific
The H1-B Visa Program and Its Impact on the US Economy | American Immigration Council
The H-1B visa is probably the most common visa acquired by those in STEM fields, and it has a big impact on our economy. One way we can support foreign-born engineers is to educate ourselves on what they go through to obtain this visa. There is a limited number of H-1B visas available for each year - currently 65,000 + 20,000 (added visas for foreign professionals who graduate with a master’s degree or doctorate from a US college). Who gets these visas depends on a lottery system and employers willing to submit a petition (and complete the registration process) for foreign-born employees. H-1B workers are intended to complement native-born workers in the labor market to provide several beneficial impacts to the US economy. These benefits include immigrant workers investing their wages in the US economy, growth of the labor market through new businesses and expanded existing operations, and increased ideas and innovations that come from the increased diversity in the labor pool. Read the full article for more details on the process and the ways everyone benefits from the H-1B visa program!
Published September 2025; Estimated Read Time - 10 minutes
How a Foreign Engineer Can Get Licensed in the US | Engineering Management Institute
What does it take to overcome barriers and build a successful engineering career? In this episode of the Engineering Management Institute, Nabeal W. Khatib shares his inspiring journey from immigrating to the United States from Jordan without speaking English to earning multiple engineering degrees and becoming a licensed professional engineer. Through his story, viewers are reminded that while technical ability is essential, lasting success is driven by passion, perseverance, and ambition. This conversation offers valuable insight and encouragement for aspiring engineers and seasoned professionals alike.
Originally aired January 2023; 00:13:12
Supporting Immigrant Workers | The Business of Race Podcast
Host Regina Newkirk Rucci and immigration attorney Andrea Reyes discuss the nuances and specifics of how employers can support and welcome foreign-born workers. They review the various visa types, the application process and requirements, and how employees can obtain work permits with the support of an employer. They then address the various challenges that immigrant employees face in the workplace and provide recommendations for policies and initiatives that can ease the transition, from translation support to cultural sensitivity education for all employees. They also point out that many of these processes and educational opportunities are similarly applicable to US-born workers seeking to work in other countries. They end by emphasizing the value of diverse background, culture, and lived experience to individuals and to the firms that employ them, and remind us all that learning and broadening our horizons is a noble and worthwhile goal.
Originally published March 2023; 00:52:07
This article was originally published in the NCSEA's Structural Connection newsletter.
Read.Watch.Listen is a monthly forum hosted by the NCSEA SE3 Committee to share and promote conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion within the structural engineering profession. Each month, we will curate a series of articles, audio-visual and digital media to facilitate self-education in matters that affect our professional practice as structural engineers. Whether you choose to read, watch, or listen (or all three!), we hope you will join us in this important conversation. Missed the previous issue? Check out the NCSEA SE3 Committee News and Publication page.
Share your thoughts and/or recommended resources for the next issue at ncsea@ncsea.com.