OpenAI researcher is expelled from the US at the rate of new immigration policies

Kai Chen, a key researcher in the development of GPT-4.5, was forced to leave the United States, this after the rejection of his request to process a Green Card.

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• Kai Chen, researcher at OpenAi, He must move to Canada after 12 years living in the US.
• Due to the new immigration policies in the US Green Card.
• Experts warn about the negative impact of new immigration policies in the field of science and technology.
• More than 75% of the scientists surveyed consider abandoning the US. To follow the situation.

The researcher Kai Chen, recognized for her participation in the development of the artificial intelligence model GPT-4.5, announced his US departure. After his residence card application (Green Card) was rejected.

Canadian citizen, Chen shared the news through her social networks, detailing that she will move to Vancouver “For an indeterminate time”. His case reflects a growing pattern of migratory difficulties for foreign professionals in the US technology sector.

Hello Tweeter. I’ll be in vancouver for an indeterminate amount of time! I have not Friends There So Would Be Excited About Meeting New People 🙂 Hopefully Will Return Home Somotime This Year But if not Shall Make the Best of It. https://t.co/HO1VCXQRQ6

– Kai (@kaicathyc) April 25, 2025

The impact of immigration policy on the technological sector

Noam Brown, research scientist OpenAI and Colega de Cen, expressed concern about the situation.

Through the social network X, Brown declared: “It is deeply worrying that one of the best researchers with whom I have worked, @kaicathyc, has been rejected for a residence card today. A Canadian who has lived and contributed here for 12 years now has to leave. We are risking the leadership of the United States in AI by rejecting talents like this. ”

The strictest immigration policies arose after the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. Since then, more rigorous evaluations have been applied to visa applicants and residence cards, significantly affecting the scientific and technological ecosystem.

More than a thousand international students have faced problems with their visas in recent months, generating an environment of uncertainty and distrust in the academic and research sector.

The US government has temporarily suspended efforts to revoke records of the Exchange Student and Visitors Program While developing a clearer policy. In turn, the processing of residence card requests for immigrants with refugee or asylum status was arrested.

New demands were also implemented for those who apply to visas H-1b, including the delivery of residential addresses and biometric data, according to recent reports.

These actions have generated a series of more than one hundred legal demands and a generalized climate of uncertainty between highly qualified researchers and workers.

Consequences for the US in terms of scientific leadership

According to a survey published by the magazine Naturereviewed by Decrypt, 75% of more than 1,600 scientists surveyed are considering leaving the United States to occupy positions in Europe or Canada.

Nature He pointed out that “The massive changes in scientific research in the US caused by the new administration of President Donald Trump are taking many scientists to rethink their lives and careers.”

The artificial intelligence sector could be particularly affected. A 2023 analysis of the National Foundation For American Policcy revealed that 66% of the 50 most promising startups in the United States were founded by immigrants. In addition, about 70% of postgraduate students in AI areas are international.

Despite being an defender of migratory roads more accessible to highly qualified professionals, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAi, He has not issued public comments on Chen’s case.

Another colleague of OpenAi, Dylan Hunn, described Chen as “crucial” for the development of GPT-4.5 And he criticized the decision of his expulsion, describing it as “crazy.”

The scenario suggests that, despite the efforts of some organizations to protect their foreign talent, new immigration policies represent a difficult obstacle to overcome for many researchers.

Written article with the help of an AI content editor, edited by Angel Di Matteo / Diariobitcoin

Original image of Unspash

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