Sanity on Visas for Students

The New York Times > Opinion > Editorial: "The core of the problem was the clearance procedures that were established in 1998 to screen out people who might try to steal American technology; these rules were enforced with renewed zeal after 9/11. The checks were said to be keeping out some terrorists, but they were also impeding a large number of visa applicants who posed no threat whatever. Delays in processing qualified applicants typically exceeded two months. Those who gained a visa had to go through the arduous clearance process every year if they wanted to complete their studies.

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.

The capstone was a policy change announced last week that made a clearance valid for four years for students and two years for working scientists, making it easier for them to stay in the country for the duration of their study or research. America's reputation for welcoming scholars from around the world can only benefit."