Press Releases

U.S. Officials, Educators Hail Improved Student Visa Process (March 25, 2005)

Forum participants emphasize United States welcomes foreign students

By Anthony Kujawa Washington File Staff Writer

Washington – The United States has improved its ability to efficiently process visa applications, and is committed to maintaining open, transparent procedures for international students and visitors, officials say.

Speaking March 24 at a Washington International Trade Association- hosted forum on student visa policies and their impact on U.S. interests, Tony Edson, managing director of visa services at the State Department, called protecting openness a "fundamental commitment" that underpins the U.S. approach to border security and immigration.

"Although security must always be our first priority, we work every day to see that access to our country is not impeded for those whose presence we encourage and value," he said.

Educators and government officials agreed on the importance of international student contributions to the U.S. economy and higher-education institutions and on the need to combat perceptions that the United States is not a welcoming environment for foreign students.

"If citizens of our trading partners cannot travel to the United States to conduct business, to get a world-class education, receive state-of-the-art medical treatment, or just visit our cities … we are jeopardizing our economic health," said Doug Baker, a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He said his agency is working to combat perceptions that the United States does not welcome international students.

Vic Johnson, associate director for public policy of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, said the combination of increased competition with other nations to attract foreign students and post-9/11 delays in processing student visa applications created a "perfect storm" that sent a message to prospective students that "we don’t want you anymore."

Officials say new U.S. visa procedures following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, resulted in some delays for certain applicants when originally implemented, but that the United States has since improved its ability to efficiently process visa applications.

George Washington University President Joel Trachtenberg praised improvements to the visa process, such as extending the validity of clearances for students in certain scientific and technical fields, and a decreased wait times for visas.

The State Department’s Edson said that 97 percent of visa applications are processed within two or three days.

"The overwhelming majority of international travelers, including students, were never subject to any particular special processing requirements after 9/11 that delayed the process," said Edson, adding, "Only about 2.5 percent of visa applications are subject to special screening requirements for security reasons."

Pocessing times for what are called Visas Mantis reviews -- interagency reviews required for individuals with backgrounds in certain scientific and technical fields -- plunged from an average of 75 days in October 2003 to fewer than 14 days now, a claim substantiated by a February 18 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress.

In addition, the validity period for Visas Mantis clearances has been extended from one year to a maximum of up to four years for students. This means that if a student receives a clearance, the visa could remain valid for as long as the student remains in his or her academic program, up to four years. (For additional information, see a February 11 State Department announcement.)

State Department officials also assert that a new visa procedure, which went into effect October 2004 and requires "biometric identifiers" be included in visas, should not deter visitors to the United States. The process, which takes less than 30 seconds and is applicable to travelers from all countries seeking entry into the United States, requires a digital photo and fingerscans of both index fingers to be taken during visa interviews.

"There is a perception that student visas are harder to get [post-September 11, 2001], that we deny more people now than we used to. In fact we don’t. The criteria to qualify for a student visa hasn’t changed," Edson said. The State Department official added that in 2004 the U.S. approved student visas at a higher rate than before September 11, 2001.

President of the American Council on Education, David Ward, also speaking at the forum remarked that the U.S. visa process has "progressively improved."

"Systemically, it [the visa process] is without any question much better, especially for student visas," he said.

Discussing improvements to the visa process, Edson added that information on wait times for visa interview appointments at consular posts, as well as wait times for the visa to be processed is available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php.

In summer 2004, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs redesigned its Web site to make it more user-friendly and to include more information about the visa application process, he said.

"We are keenly aware that America’s outstanding academic institutions are as valuable to U.S. national security as is the protection of our borders," said Edson, noting the U.S. government’s commitment to efficiently process student visas. U.S. consular posts give priority "to ensure that no student ever misses school or starts late because they couldn’t get an appointment for a visa," he added.

Emphasizing the importance of "openness" in America, Edson noted that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during her January confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate: "Our interaction with the rest of the world must be a conversation, not a monologue, and America must remain open to visitors and workers and students from around world. We do not and will not compromise our security standards, yet … we cannot close ourselves off from the rest of the world."

For additional information, see a related article, "We Don't Want to Lose Even One International Student", by Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty.