OSA NEWS
May 20, 2004
Leading Academic, Science Groups Propose Visa Reforms To Boost U.S. Economic Competitiveness And Scientific Leadership
A group of 40 leading academic, science and engineering associations today urged the U.S.
government to accelerate its effort to reform the visa process for international students, scholars,
and researchers.
While noting that progress has been made during the past year, the group said that additional
steps are needed to help dispel the “misperception that our country does not welcome these
international visitors, who contribute immensely to our nation’s economy, national security, and
higher education and scientific enterprises.”
The organizations represent nearly all of the higher education and research communities, as
well as many of the businesses and industries vital to the U.S. economy.
The groups, led by the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the American Association
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), made six recommendations for reducing or eliminating
barriers that they said cause undue hardship for the kind of visitors who for decades have helped to
sustain the nation’s leadership in science and innovation.
The statement is available on the AAU Web site at:
http://www.aau.edu/homeland/05VisaStatement.pdf and on the AAAS Web site at:
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2005/0518recommendations.shtml.
A year ago, most of the same groups issued a similar statement with recommended reforms
(
http://www.aau.edu/homeland/JointVisaStatement.pdf), and a number of those proposals have been
implemented, in whole or in part. The group today expressed appreciation for those “significant
recent improvements to the U.S. visa system” but pointed out that “considerable barriers remain.”
The misperceptions caused by these barriers, they wrote, “must be dispelled soon, or we risk
irreparable damage to our competitive advantage in attracting international students, scholars,
scientists, and engineers, and ultimately to our nation’s global leadership.”
“If our nation is to remain the world’s leader in science and innovation, we must continue to
encourage the contributions made by international students, scientists, and engineers,” said AAU
president Nils Hasselmo. “We appreciate the steps that have been taken by the Administration to
fix the visa process, but unnecessary barriers remain." He added, "We will continue to work with
the Departments of State and Homeland Security to eliminate them.”
“Foreign students and visitors are a hugely valuable asset for the United States,” said Albert
H. Teich, director of science and policy programs for AAAS. “Not only do we benefit from those
who ultimately may decide to apply for immigrant visas and stay in this country, but we gain
equally from those who return to their home countries and remain connected to us through
collaborations, friendships and common interests. U.S. visa policies need to be calibrated to restore
the image, and the reality, of the U.S. as a welcoming nation.”
The group made the following recommendations:
- Extend the validity of Visas Mantis security clearances for international scholars and
scientists from the current two-year limit to the duration of their academic appointment. This would be similar to the extension provided recently for international students. The change “would prevent redundant security checks that can waste resources and cause unnecessary
delays and hardships,” the group wrote.
- Allow international students, scholars, scientists, and engineers to renew their visas in the
U.S. Visitors who leave the country for any reason, such as attending an academic conference
or visiting family, need a visa to return. Currently, the visa renewal process must be initiated
and completed outside the U.S., usually in the applicant’s home country. The group proposes
allowing individuals to complete, or at least initiate, the process before leaving the U.S., to
facilitate their return and enable them “to continue their studies and research uninterrupted.”
- Renegotiate visa reciprocity agreements with key sending countries to extend the duration
of visas for citizens of each country and permit multiple entries on a single visa. The U.S.
maintains reciprocal visa agreements with other countries under which U.S. policy toward
visitors from those countries matches their policy toward U.S. citizens. Agreements with some
countries, such as China, are very restrictive. Negotiations with China have already begun.
- Amend inflexible requirements that lead to frequent student visa denials. Current law
requires student visa applicants to demonstrate that they have a residence and employment
opportunities to return to in their home country, and that they intend to return. Nearly half of
the visa denials for international students from certain countries occur on the basis of this
requirement. The group recommended that Congress amend the law to focus less on these
criteria and more on applicants’ financial ability and intent to fulfill a course of study in the U.S.
They said this change would help to prevent the loss of many highly qualified students.
- Develop a national strategy to promote academic and scientific exchange and to encourage
international students, scholars, scientists, and engineers to pursue higher education and
research opportunities in the U.S. The strategy, the group said, should include visa reforms as
well as other efforts by both the government and the academic community to “counter
prevailing negative perceptions of studying and conducting research in the United States…”
- The government should not require that export licenses be obtained for international
scientists and engineers to use equipment for unclassified, fundamental research in the
U.S. The Department of Commerce is considering a new requirement that export licenses be
obtained before certain foreign nationals may use specialized scientific equipment for
unclassified, fundamental research. It would apply even to researchers who had undergone a
3
Visas Mantis security review. The group argued that such a requirement could further
discourage top international scientists and engineers from working in the U.S.
“We reiterate our commitment to work with the federal government to improve the visa
system,” the group statement concluded. “That system should maintain our nation’s security by
preventing entry by those who pose a threat to the United States and encouraging the entry of the
brightest and most qualified international students, scholars, scientists, and engineers to participate
fully in the U.S. higher education and research enterprises. Such a system will foster American
scientific and economic competitiveness. We commend the federal government for the
improvements made to the visa system to date, and we look forward to continuing to work together
for these further needed changes.”
Advancing the Science and Technology of Light
