Border Security: Improvements Needed to Reduce Time Taken to Adjudicate Visas for Science Students and Scholars;Report to the Congress

摘要

Each year thousands of international science students and scholars apply for visas to enter the United States to participate in education and exchange programs. Foreign science students and scholars offer our country diversity and intellectual knowledge and are also an economic resource. At the same time, the United States has important national security interests in carefully screening science students and scholars who apply for visas. At a hearing held by the House Committee on Science on March 26, 2003, various witnesses raised concerns about the length of time it takes for a science student or scholar to obtain a visa. Moreover, university officials in the United States have expressed concern about losing top international students to other countries due to delays in the visa process. Visa decisions need to be made as quickly as possible to ensure that the United States remains a viable place for study and scientific exchanges; at the same time, visa decisions must be consistent with immigration laws and homeland security objectives.