New Visa Fees Would Send the Wrong Signal

Almost all of us can remember America’s reaction to 9/11. In the days following the horrendous event many defensive initiatives were taken and, since two of the perpetrators were foreign students, one reaction was to restrict access to America’s colleges and universities. Barriers were imposed overseas, visas became difficult if not impossible to get. Personnel in American embassies were frosty, if not outright rude, to inquiries from those interested in enrolling as undergraduate or graduate students. …………. our ambassador he acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the problems they were causing both for his staff and Chinese nationals. …………. The U.S. authorities stood firm. Students who had contemplated studying in the U.S. redirected themselves to schools in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and other more welcoming English speaking countries. …………… It was important that persons from other countries studying in the U.S. come to know our values and return home able to make the case for America; …………………..China and India have been sending students to our shores with renewed vigor. Conservative U.S. visa practices seem to have become more flexible. ……………..the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering doubling the fee that international students were going to be required to pay when they applied for visas. The numbers aren’t consequential in the larger scheme of things, going from $100 to $200. [View Full Article]