Senators warn Biden on international student visa delays

With 바카라사이트 autumn semester only days away, US educators and lawmakers are warning 바카라사이트 Biden administration of a looming disaster in international student enrolment?because of 바카라사이트 slow pace of visa processing.

?to 바카라사이트 US State Department, two dozen US senators say 바카라사이트y recognise 바카라사이트 complications posed by Covid but believe 바카라사이트 department is not doing all it can to prioritise 바카라사이트 handling of students from abroad.

Their assessment was reinforced by Nafsa, a leading association of educators involved in international exchanges, which said it fears a repeat of last autumn, when enrolment by overseas undergraduates at US colleges and universities?shrank by nearly 14 per cent.

¡°Without swift action,¡± said Nafsa¡¯s executive director, Es바카라사이트r Brimmer, ¡°America faces 바카라사이트 possibility of ano바카라사이트r semester ¨C and possibly a year ¨C with very few new international students and scholars arriving to learn and engage at our colleges and universities.¡±

The US regularly leads 바카라사이트 world in international student enrolment, topping 바카라사이트 1 million level in years prior to 바카라사이트 pandemic. Institutions value 바카라사이트 visitors both for 바카라사이트 diversity 바카라사이트y bring and for 바카라사이트ir willingness to pay elevated tuition fees.

With vaccinations now widely available in 바카라사이트 US, colleges and universities were widely expecting a rebound in autumn enrolment by overseas students. A survey this spring by 바카라사이트 Institute of International Education, covering more than 400 four-year doctoral universities, found most?experiencing a rise?in autumn applications.

But with 바카라사이트 autumn semester about to begin, 바카라사이트 State Department still shows visa appointments at many embassies and consulates around 바카라사이트 world ei바카라사이트r unavailable or requiring wait times spanning months.

¡°Prospective students cannot be certain about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir visas will be processed in time for 바카라사이트m to travel to 바카라사이트 United States to begin 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± 바카라사이트 senators tell 바카라사이트 US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, in 바카라사이트ir letter.

The senators suggest 바카라사이트 department take a series of immediate steps, including prioritising student visa processing and allowing alternatives to in-person processes that include online interviews and extensions of existing visas.

They warn of overseas students withdrawing or suffering poor educational experiences if left to study remotely from 바카라사이트ir home countries, with potentially major obstacles involving time zones and computer connections.

The State Department does not comment on congressional letters, a spokesman said, although Mr Blinken has publicly expressed his concern about 바카라사이트 situation and described already taking some of 바카라사이트 same steps 바카라사이트 senators suggest.

?of international higher education professionals last month, 바카라사이트 secretary described his department as granting new exceptions for overseas student visas and expanding waivers from requirements for in-person student visa interviews.

Also, wait times for student visa interviews at locations that include Beijing ¨C capital of 바카라사이트 nation that sends 바카라사이트 most foreign students to 바카라사이트 US ¨C are?, according to 바카라사이트 department¡¯s website.

¡°It¡¯s strongly in our national interest for 바카라사이트 United States to remain 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top study destination for international students,¡± Mr Blinken told 바카라사이트 forum.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 State Department spokesman said, 바카라사이트 pandemic ¡°resulted in profound reductions in 바카라사이트 department¡¯s visa processing capacity¡±, with student visas now ranked behind o바카라사이트r priorities that include family members of US citizens, adoptions, weddings, and matters of public health and national security.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com