The
growth of the international student population in the United
States over the years has been a source of pride and benefit
to our institutions of higher education and to all of us
who work in the field of diplomacy and international relations.
According to the Institute of International Education (IIE),
an independent non-profit exchange organization based in
New York, the number of international students in the United
States has grown from about 34,000 in the 1954-55 academic
year to nearly 600,000 in 2002-2003. The U.S. is home to
many of the world’s finest educational institutions,
and our colleges and universities remain eager to accept
qualified students from abroad. International students bring
cultural and intellectual diversity to our campuses and
communities and promote greater understanding between U.S.
citizens and people in other societies, an important U.S.
policy goal.
EducationUSA advising centers around the
world report continued high levels of inquiries about study
in the U.S. In fact, worldwide, it is estimated that our
advising centers work every year with millions of young
people who have an interest in further education in the
United States. (To find the center nearest you, visit the
State Department’s website, http://educationUSA.state.gov.)
We welcome this sustained interest among international students
in coming to the U.S. to study. Although we have implemented
new measures to make our borders and the traveling public
more secure, we have not changed the basic criteria for
visa eligibility to visit or study in the United States.
Contrary to the perception that visa refusal rates have
risen dramatically, or the even worse misconception that
it is impossible to obtain a visa to enter the United States,
our visa issuance rates are almost the same as they were
prior to the events of September 11, 2001. U.S. Secretary
of State, Colin Powell, in describing the continuing openness
of the United States to students and travelers from abroad,
declared that our motto is “Secure Borders, Open Doors.”
Recent improvements in the process are
making long waits for decisions about visa applications
the exception, not the rule. Further decreases in the time
required are likely as the U.S. introduces more automated
systems and works to improve visa processing in other ways.
Although students in certain science fields may face an
additional verification step, 80 percent of these verifications
are completed in less than 30 days.
The new SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System) program electronically links the college and university
admission process directly to our consular offices around
the world, ensuring that this key information about student
admission flows smoothly and quickly. Electronic finger-scanning
will make it easier to verify that legitimate students and
travelers qualify for visas, thus facilitating each traveler’s
entry into the U.S. Thanks to a special program developed
specifically for international students, U.S. Embassies
and Consulates now make special arrangements to ensure that
all applicants for student visas receive expedited processing
for an interview so they can arrive in time in the U.S.
to attend any international student orientation programs
at their institution and, of course, the first day of class.
These improvements result from a
major investment in staffing, technology, facilities and
new procedures. The State Department has hired and trained
a significant number of new consular officers. We have built
additional space for visa interviews around the world and
installed new equipment to provide faster, more comprehensive
information. We have revised visa application procedures
and regulations with Congressional guidance to meet new
standards.
The central theme of my message is this: we want students
from other countries to take advantage of the exceptional
educational opportunities in the United States. Among these
are universities and colleges of all descriptions and types,
from rural institutions to urban campuses, from small two-
and four-year colleges, and women’s colleges, to large
research universities. But though they are diverse, U.S.
colleges and universities share many common attributes --
flexibility, individual attention, close collaboration between
students and professors, hands-on learning and access to
the best facilities in the world. These and other characteristics,
including the earned reputation as the best higher educational
system in the world, are some of the features that distinguish
U.S. education. International students who enroll in a U.S.
educational institution will also discover and enjoy the
individual freedoms of life in the United States and openness
of a democratic society.
The importance of greater understanding between the United
States and countries around the world, including Uruguay,
has never been more essential. There are several educational
exchanges between Uruguay and the United States and all
of them have changed lives, opened minds, and expanded the
dialogue between citizens of both countries. If you are
thinking about your own educational future, I strongly recommend
that you investigate higher education in the United States.
With over 3,600 fully accredited institutions of higher
education, America offers numerous options from which to
choose. Please consult the EducationUSA advising center
closest to you for more information. When you do, I think
you will find that the United States is not only a safe
place to visit, but also a great place to study.
Published by ULTIMAS NOTICIAS - Saturday
18/9/2004.
