OpenAI Researcher Behind GPT-4.5 Forced to Leave US After Green Card Denial

In brief An OpenAI researcher was forced to leave the U.S. after her green card was denied under stricter Trump-era immigration policies. Colleagues called the decision "nuts" and "deeply concerning," warning that turning away top AI talent threatens U.S. leadership in the field. Despite advocating for high-skill immigration, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman has thus far been silent on the incident. Decrypt’s Art, Fashion, and Entertainment Hub. Discover SCENE An OpenAI researcher who helped develop GPT-4.5 had her green card application rejected last week, forcing her to leave the United States after living and working in the country for 12 years. Kai Chen —a Canadian citizen—announced on social media that she'll be relocating to Vancouver for "an indeterminate amount of time" following the denial. Hello tweeter. I’ll be in Vancouver for an indeterminate amount of time! I have no friends there so would be excited about meeting new people 🙂 Hopefully will return home sometime this year but if not shall make the best of it. https://t.co/hO1VCXqRq6 — Kai (@kaicathyc) April 25, 2025 Chen's colleague at OpenAI, research scientist Noam Brown, expressed dismay at the decision. "It's deeply concerning that one of the best AI researchers I've worked with, @kaicathyc, was denied a U.S. green card today," Brown wrote on X. "A Canadian who's lived and contributed here for 12 years now has to leave. We’re risking America’s AI leadership when we turn away talent like this." It's deeply concerning that one of the best AI researchers I've worked with, @kaicathyc , was denied a U.S. green card today. A Canadian who's lived and contributed here for 12 years now has to leave. We’re risking America’s AI leadership when we turn away talent like this. — Noam Brown (@polynoamial) April 25, 2025 Chen's situation is just part of a growing challenge for the American tech sector under Trump's tightened immigration policies, which began after his January 2025 inauguration. The denial comes amid increased scrutiny of both visa holders and green card applicants, with more than a thousand international students facing visa challenges in recent months. The situation has resulted in over a hundred lawsuits, and on Friday, the Trump Administration hit the pause button on its efforts to revoke Student and Exchange Visitor Program records until a clear policy is designed. The government also suspended processing of green card requests for immigrants granted refugee or asylum status, and introduced new H-1B visa requirements, including providing home addresses and biometrics, according to reports. The visa crackdown has had a chilling effect on the scientific community. A Nature poll found that 75% of respondents—more than 1,600 scientists in total—are now considering leaving the U.S. for positions abroad, primarily to Europe and Canada. "The massive changes in U.S. research brought about by the new administration of President Donald Trump are causing many scientists in the country to rethink their lives and careers," Nature reported . This talent exodus could hit the AI sector particularly hard. Statistics show that 66% of the 50 most promising U.S.-based AI startups had at least one immigrant founder, and nearly 70% of full-time AI-related graduate students in America are international, based on a 2023 analysis published by the National Foundation for American Policy. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has previously advocated for easier high-skill immigration pathways. However, he has not said anything publicly regarding Chen’s situation. one of the easiest policy wins i can imagine for the US is to reform high-skill immigration. the fact that many of the most talented people in the world want to be here is a hard-won gift; embracing them is the key to keeping it that way. hard to get this back if we lose it. — Sam Altman (@sama) July 2, 2023 Despite these efforts, researchers like Chen are finding themselves caught in the administration's immigration dragnet. Another OpenAI colleague, Dylan Hunn, described Chen as " crucial " to the development of GPT-4.5, saying it was "nuts" to kick her out of the country. The Immigration and Nationality Act gives the Secretary of State broad authority to revoke visas if a foreign national's presence or activities could have "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the U.S. This provision has reportedly been used to target hundreds of visa holders in recent months, as there is no clear barrier on what constitutes an adverse consequence. Neither Kai nor OpenAI shared any statements with Decrypt by the time this article was published. Generally Intelligent Newsletter A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model. Your Email Get it! Get it!