Constraints on International Geoscientific Interaction AGI Geoscience Leadership Forum 2003

1. Constraints on International Geoscientific Interaction AGI Geoscience Leadership Forum 2003 National Academy of Sciences 19 May 2003 Peter Folger AGU

2. What is the Concern? • Visa Backlogs for: • Students • Post-docs • Visiting Scientists • Why? • Increased Scrutiny Since September 11 • Problems with the Student Exchange and Visitor Information Service (SEVIS) • Issue: Will this work itself out, or will the flow of scientists and students be permanently constrained?

3. Foreign Student Stats • In 1998, ~30% of graduate students studying science and engineering in the U.S. were foreign • 40% of doctoral degrees awarded in the physical sciences in 1998 were to foreign students • Approximately 25% of all U.S. doctorate holders and approximately 45% of all Ph.D. engineers and computer scientists were born outside the U.S.

4. Congressional Hearing on 26 March to Identify Problems with the electronic database known as the Student Exchange and Visa Information System (SEVIS) • Witnesses cited problems with the system: • Loss of data, immigration forms going to the wrong places, delays by embassies and consulates in reviewing SEVIS data, lack of training on the SEVIS system • State Department testimony: • consular officers can be held liable for acts of terrorism committed by someone to whom they issued a visa. • Result: extreme caution by officers not familiar with science and technology fields of study that are targeted under SEVIS

5. Will the problem resolve itself? • House Science Committee Chair Sherwood Boehlert and Ranking Minority member Ralph Hall sent a letter to the General Accounting Office requesting better data on the extent and nature of the visa backlog • Conjecture: Congress will balk at amending the visa process unless they are more certain that the problem is not simply relating to inefficiencies in the current system. • Other organizations are collecting data and providing information about problems with student visas (NAS, APS, AIP, AGU)

6. Welcome to the International Visitors Office of the National Academies. The purpose of our Web site is to provide useful information related to visas. Visa InformationProvides information on obtaining a visa and what to do in the event of a delay or denial. Also answers questions for those organizing international meetings in the United States. Visa SurveyOnline survey used to collect information on scientific mobility and the free flow of scientists. Requires user to answer a series of questions and submit information. Data will be used for the purpose of tracking trends and developing policies. LinksIncludes links to sites that provide additional information on understanding the visa process and related issues as well as links to organizations and institutions that regularly deal with visas. Local SearchConducts a local search for specific issues of interest. Please note, the search will only cover this website, and will not search any other sites within the National Academies or elsewhere. International Visitors OfficePGA/BISOThe National Academies500 Fifth Street, NW, W541Washington, DC 20001USAPhone: 202-334-2807Fax: 202-334-2231Email: visas@nas.edu http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/

7. Visa Information • Our primary goal is to provide the most current information on the procedures to follow for obtaining a visa and suggest actions to take in the event of a visa delay or denial. This information may be useful for a number of users and, in order to provide the most relevant information to particular groups, several categories have been created from which to choose. Please select the category below that best describes your interest. • I need information about: • Traveling to the United States • Traveling from the United States • Organizing an international meeting in the United States http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/Visa_Information.html

8. Visa Survey • The International Visitors Office has designed a survey to collect information regarding visa-related issues. If you have specific information on a visa case and would be willing to share this information, please visit our online survey and submit your information. • This information will be used by our office to: • Report trends with visa applications. • Generate reports on specific visa-related issues. • Inform policy makers. • Improve our ability to facilitate the free flow of scientists. • If you have trouble with the survey, or if you have suggestions to improve the survey, please email us at visas@nas.edu • ENTER VISA SURVEY HERE • DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this database is to collect information on visa issues to enable the National Academies to respond to problems related to visas. This information will only be accessible to staff of the International Visitors Office. No personal information, including your email address or the name of the applicant, will be used for any other purposes. Your email address is required in order to confirm receipt of your entry and to contact you in the event that this office can assist in your case. • http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/Visa_Survey.html

9. Surveys The American Institute of Physics is conducting a survey of Physics departments. AGU plans a similar survey along the same lines for Geophysics and Geosciences departments. Goal: examine trends and changes and whether problems can be traced to new and changing security measures implemented after September 11.

10. Draft Questions • How many ACCEPTED international students were denied visas? • [subquestions on comparisons to two years ago, countries of origin, field of study, impacts to the department, comparisons to total number of students accepted, and total applications to the department, U.S. and international] • 2. Has the department altered its approach to the number of international students it accepts compared to two years ago? • 3. Has the total number of international student applications changed from 2 years ago?

11. Draft Questions (cont.) 4. Have the patterns of applications (countries of origin) changed compared to two years ago? 5. Did visas arrive too late for accepted students to begin their studies? Should other topics be addressed? Expand target beyond students to include post-docs and visiting scientists? Data from this and the other surveys could and should be shared among the interested societies and with policymakers. Once the data is assembled and assessed, the societies can craft a collaborative strategy to remove constraints on the flow of scientists.