IEEE-USA
recognizes the urgent need to secure U.S. borders against terrorism
activity. At the same time, we urge Congress and the Administration
to take appropriate actions to streamline and improve the U.S. visa
processing system to eliminate unnecessary delays and allow for
priority processing of visitors entering the United States for
mutually beneficial educational, scientific and technical
collaborations.
|
IEEE-USA Resources |
| IEEE-USA
Position Statement on
Visa Processing
(Nov. 2004) |
|
Multi-society statement and
recommendations for
Enhancing the U.S.
Visa System to Advance America’s Scientific and Economic
Competitiveness and National Security Interests, sent to
the State and Homeland Security Departments, the White House
Office of Science and Technology Policy. and key
Congressional offices. (May 2005) |
|
Multi-Society Statement and Recommendations to Key
Administration and Congressional leaders on
Visa Problems Harming
America's Scientific, Economic, and Security Interests (May
2004) |
| IEEE
Information Resources for Travelers |
|
Information
Resources |
| AAAS
Resources
on Foreign Students and Scholars in the Post-9/11 Science
and National Security Environment |
|
National Academies
International Visitors Office |
|
American Society for Microbiology
visa
information page |
| NAFSA
(Association of International Educators)
Immigration Advising Resources |
|
Government Documents |
|
Addressing the New Reality of Current Visa Policy on
International Students and Researchers, Hearing by the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Oct. 6, 2004) |
|
Homeland Security: Performance of Information System to
Monitor Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors Has Improved,
but Issues Remain, General Accounting Office (GAO-04-690,
June 18, 2004) |
| House
Science Committee
requests follow-up investigation of visa delays (June
16, 2004) |
| Border
Security: Improvements Needed to Reduce Time Taken to
Adjudicate Visas for Science Students and Scholars, General
Accounting Office (GAO-04-371,
Feb. 25, 2004) |
|
The Conflict Between Science and Security in Visa Policy:
Status and Next Steps, Hearing by the House Science
Committee (Feb. 25, 2004) |
|
New
and Notable
The Center for
Strategic and Int'l Studies (CSIS), through its Commission on
Scientific Communication and National Security, has released a White
Paper on
Security Controls on the Access of Foreign Scientists and Engineers
to the United States. (Oct. 2005)
On 18 May,
IEEE-USA joined with the National Academy of Engineering, the
American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the
Association of American Universities and nearly 40 other
organizations in a statement offering
recommendations for
enhancing the U.S. visa system.
On 18 Feb., the
Government Accountability Office
reported that
the streamlined Visa Mantis program has lowered the burden on
foreign science students and scholars, shortening the average
waiting period from 67 days to approximately 15, but that further refinements
are needed.
House Science
Committee Chair Sherwood Boehlert
responded to the GAO report's findings, noting "the 67 day
average processing time that GAO found last year was alarming. I am
gratified by the good news today that that number has been
drastically reduced. I am pleased that the Science Committee's focus
on this issue is bearing fruit."
From New
York Times (16 Feb. 2005): "Thanks to pressure from
prestigious academic and scientific organizations and leaders of
high-tech industries, the administration added staff and streamlined
the process so clearance now takes less than two weeks, on average."
On 11 Feb., the
State Department announced an "Extension
of Validity for Science Related Interagency Visa Clearances",
thereby adopting one of the recommendations outlined in our
multi-society statement.
The
announcement was
praised
by House Science Committee Chair Sherwood Boehlert, who noted "By
allowing our federal agencies to concentrate on new visa applicants,
whose motives and background are still unknown, we can keep our
country safe while welcoming the foreign scientists, students and
scholars who contribute so much to our economic strength and
national security." |
