By Katie Duncan. An analysis of the economies of 118 metro areas in the USA has revealed that foreign students are vital players in connecting cities with economies around the world. A report published by The Brookings Institution, drew on F-1 visa data from 2001-2012 to find that 45% of students were able to extend their visas through the optional practical training (OPT) programme after graduating and get jobs in the metro regions they had studied in. More...