 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic Groups Recommend Changes in U.S. Visa Policies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IIE joined with a group of 40 leading academic, science and engineering associations to urge
the US government to accelerate its effort to reform the visa process for
international students, scholars and researchers.
Click here to read the Community Visa Statement Press Release.
Click here to read the Community Recommendations on U.S. Visa Policies.
Below is an article from today's Chronicle of Higher Education:
Chronicle of Higher Education
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Academic Groups Call on Federal Government to Ease the Path for Foreign Students and Scholars
By MICHELLE DIAMENT
Washington
A large group of academic associations is urging the federal government to
take more action to welcome international students, researchers, and
scholars to the United States by overhauling the visa process and taking
other steps to remove hurdles to foreigners.
The group, led by the Association of American Universities and the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, released six recommendations on
Wednesday that build on suggestions a similar group offered last year (The
Chronicle, May 21, 2004).
Some progress has been made in the past year, the associations said on
Wednesday, citing in particular the extension of Visas Mantis security
clearances for foreign students and scholars studying sensitive topics; the
broader ability of visa applicants to check on the status of their
applications; the establishment of a more-efficient fee-collection system
for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which tracks the
status of foreign students and scholars; and the provision of updated
training to staff members at American consulates abroad.
But more must be done, the groups said.
One key recommendation calls for making Visas Mantis clearances for foreign
scholars to be valid for the duration of an appointment in the United
States. Earlier this year, the Visas Mantis clearance for students was
extended from only one year to up to four years, and access for scholars was
raised to two years from one (The Chronicle, February 14).
Two other recommendations are the same as suggestions offered last year. One
recommends that visa holders be able at least to begin the renewal process
while they are in the United States, instead of having to reapply in their
home country or another country to which they have traveled.
The other encourages the federal government to establish reciprocity
agreements with other countries to extend the time that visas are valid. The
groups note that such arrangements are in the works with China, but need to
be negotiated elsewhere as well.
The three new recommendations for this year are:
There should be less focus on making students prove that they will have
residency and employment when they return to their home countries and more
emphasis on their ability to pay for and complete an education in the United
States.
Scientists and engineers working on unclassified, fundamental research
should not need to receive a special license to use basic scientific
equipment. This proposal is being considered by the U.S. Department of
Commerce (The Chronicle, May 20).
The government should develop a strategy to encourage the exchange of ideas
across borders and to urge educators, students, and scientists to come to
the United States.
The text of this year's recommendations can be found on the Association of
American Universities' Web site (requires Adobe Reader, available free).
|
|
|
|
