Several science, engineering, and educational associations yesterday (May 12) issued a list of recommendations intended to help solve well publicized problems plaguing the US visa application process.

“There is increasing evidence that visa-related problems are discouraging and preventing the best and brightest international students, scholars, and scientists from studying and working in the United States,” according to the statement.

Among the document's signatories were the presidents of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the Institute of Medicine, the American Chemical Society, and the Federation of American Societies for Biology.

“If action is not taken soon to improve the visa system, the misperception that the

United States does not welcome international students, scholars, and scientists will grow, and they may not make our nation their destination of choice now and in the future,” the statement read in part. “The damage to our nation's higher education and scientific enterprises, economy, and national security would be irreparable.”

Wendy White, director of the Board on International Science Organizations at the NAS, said that although many of the recommendations had been included previously in individual statements from individual organizations, the current statement's "key point is that it provides a common voice for a very large group of scientific and educational associations.” She said, "we're hoping that a statement from this many organizations will help galvanize the government to move forward.”

Citing troublesome repetitive security checks that cause lengthy visa delays, the statement recommended extending security clearances for international students, scholars, and scientists from 1 year at a time to “the duration of their course of study or academic appointment.” Citing an inefficient visa renewal process, society and association presidents requested a more efficient revalidation process that applicants could initiate prior to leaving the United States.

The report also called for a mechanism for checking on application status, a process in which applications pending for more than 30 days are given a higher priority, more staff at agencies processing visas, more consistent treatment of visa applicants, and updated visa reciprocity agreements between the United States and countries like China and Russia. Seeking to avoid further impediments to processing, the statement asked that a proposed fee collection mechanism for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System be made quick, simple, and efficient.

In response to the statement, a spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a newly constituted bureau of the Department of Homeland Security, told The Scientist that the agency “welcomes all suggestions and ideas that might help improve the system.”