Ambassador
Op-Ed
December 27, 2006
“WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO THE U.S.”
By Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne
The government and people of the United States believe that international education enriches our schools, our nation, and most importantly the scholars and students we welcome to the more than 4,000 institutions of higher education in our country.
In our fiscal year 2006, the State Department issued more than 590,000 visas for international academic and vocational students and exchange visitors to study or conduct research in the United States – an all-time record. This figure is 14% higher than last year, and over 5% above the previous high in fiscal year 2001. In Argentina, the increase was 4% for students and 6% for exchange visitors.
After the 9/11 attacks, the USG made security enhancements to our visa process. These changes were essential to meet our primary mission of ensuring the security of our nation’s borders and the safety of our citizens and of visitors to our country. We do not believe that increased border security must involve closing our doors to international students and other visitors. Quite the opposite. We think that meeting both goals -- security and openness -- is not only possible, it’s imperative.
Supporting international education is a matter of U.S. national security and well being. Foreign students contribute over $13 billion annually to our economy. But much more important are the interpersonal exchanges that leave lasting, positive impressions. These, in turn, shape international opinions of our people and our nation more accurately than any media headline. I believe that the best advertisement for the U.S. is the U.S., and there is no better way to learn about the United States, its culture, politics, and people, than to live, study and work there. Similarly, our citizens come to understand other countries much better through the international students they meet.
We have made the commitment to ensure that applying for a U.S. visa is no impediment to legitimate foreign students. We are working to increase the transparency, efficiency, and predictability of the visa process, with a special focus on students. We have created 570 new consular positions worldwide since September, 2001, to respond to visa demand. Students can now apply for their visas 120 days before the start of their program and schedule their appointment as soon as they have been accepted to school. Our embassies and consulates give priority to student visa applications, and in Argentina, as in all other countries, we post appointment wait times on our website. Student visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires are scheduled within four days of contacting our call center, and qualified applicants typically receive their visas two days later.
Our message to international students generally and to Argentine students in particular is clear: we want you to study in the U.S., and we will help you get there.
