Academic Groups Call on Federal Government to Ease the Path for Foreign Students and Scholars

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 valid for the duration of an appointment in the United States. In February 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.

Copyright © 2005 by The Chronicle of Higher Education

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