The answer is no, particularly for students in the sciences.
Apparently it became more difficult to get a visa in the aftermath of
September 11, but according to a recent article, the situation has
improved. However, the granting of a visa is still not guaranteed,
particularly depending upon the student's country of origin and the
course of study to be pursued.
Sincerely,
Wonko
"The events of Sept. 11, 2001, have had ramifications throughout the
fabric of American life, especially in areas dealing with foreign
policy. A flurry of new amendments to visa issuance has created a
storm of long delays and outright denials, causing many international
students and scholars to miss classes and conferences, avoid trips
back to their home countries, or decide not to come to the U.S. at all
(C&EN, March 17, page 40). The changes have presented a particular
problem for foreign citizens who want to study science in the U.S.
because their topics of interest bring them under greater scrutiny.
"The Changing Face Of Visa Policy" by Victoria Gilman, Chemical and
Engineering News (September 29, 2003)
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/education/8139/8139education2.html
"Many outstanding students, who graduated from top universities abroad
and have been admitted into top Ph.D. programs in the United States,
can?t get visas. According to one of my graduate students, about half
of the 2003 graduates of Tsinghua University in China couldn?t get
visas, even though they were accepted to graduate programs at Harvard,
Penn State, and other top schools. Anecdotal reports are backed up by
the National Science Foundation?s new report Science and Engineering
Indicators 2004. Their reports shows that student visas peaked in 2001
at 300,000 and in 2003 had dipped to just over 200,000."
"Manufacturing Americans" By Wayne Wolf (2004)
http://www.princeton.edu/~wolf/immigration-policy.html
""There is a perception that student visas are harder to get
[post-September 11, 2001], that we deny more people now than we used
to. In fact we don't. The criteria to qualify for a student visa
hasn't changed," Edson said. The State Department official added that
in 2004 the U.S. approved student visas at a higher rate than before
September 11, 2001."
"US officials, educators hail improved student visa process" Arabic
news.com (March 25, 2005)
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050325/2005032535.html |
