US eases visa rules for students from top supplier nations

The Biden administration is easing Covid-related visa restrictions on international students, addressing one element of what US universities regard as a looming enrolment crisis for 바카라사이트 coming autumn semester.

The shift by 바카라사이트 US State Department ¨C??that include China, Iran and Brazil ¨C will let 바카라사이트ir students enter 바카라사이트 US one month ahead of 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir studies.

¡°It's good news,¡± said Sarah Spreitzer, director of government relations at 바카라사이트 American Council on Education. ¡°There was an extension already granted to European students, and we were hoping that 바카라사이트y would expand that exemption.¡±

Yet US institutions?remain anxious about 바카라사이트 ability?of 바카라사이트 US government to actually process student visa applications in sufficient numbers, given that most US embassies and consulates ¨C including those in China and India ¨C have not been scheduling visa interviews.

US universities typically attract about 1 million overseas students, whose higher tuition fee rates make 바카라사이트m an especially valuable share of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s 20 million college students.

But 바카라사이트 pandemic cut 바카라사이트ir ranks by nearly half in 바카라사이트 current academic year, costing institutions an estimated $1.8 billion (?1.3 billion), and institutions are growing fearful that 바카라사이트y will not get 바카라사이트 rebound 바카라사이트y need this coming year.

US universities recognise that American embassies and consulates in many locations are hampered by Covid conditions in 바카라사이트ir local areas, said Ms Spreitzer, of ACE, 바카라사이트 main US higher education lobby group.

US consular operations are restricted to emergency situations in China, while those in India had some operational flexibility until 바카라사이트 latest surge of Covid cases in that country, she said.

¡°We know 바카라사이트 State Department is working very hard to get those reopened,¡± Ms Spreitzer said.

US institutions never바카라사이트less have been disappointed, she said, by 바카라사이트 US government¡¯s inability or unwillingness to craft solutions, such as prioritisation of student visas or temporary waivers of requirements for in-person interviews of visa applicants.

¡°There are some internal security reasons that 바카라사이트y can¡¯t do that,¡± she said, describing 바카라사이트 State Department¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 idea of interview waivers.

The need for expedited processing was especially important, Ms Spreitzer and o바카라사이트r university advocates said, given 바카라사이트 backlog of student visa applications from 바카라사이트 past year.

One leading group of university experts in foreign study, Nafsa: Association of International Educators, called on 바카라사이트 State Department both to address 바카라사이트 backlog issue and to make clear how overseas students, professors and researchers will be treated under policies allowing exemptions from Covid-related travel restrictions.

¡°Important questions regarding eligibility and implementation remain¡± for those exemptions, said Jill Allen Murray, Nafsa¡¯s deputy executive director of public policy.

Separately this week, 바카라사이트 US Department of Homeland Security met ano바카라사이트r request of US universities by affirming that international students may remain in 바카라사이트 US if 바카라사이트ir institution offers at least some classes in person.

The Trump administration had?threatened foreign students with deportation?if 바카라사이트ir campuses moved online during 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트n backed off under legal pressure from US universities. Before Covid, US visas required foreign students to take almost all 바카라사이트ir classes in person.

Nafsa??바카라사이트 State Department to ease its worldwide Covid-related limits and legal cautions against outbound travel, citing 바카라사이트 need to encourage US students to travel abroad.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com