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US Lawmakers Push Student Visa Crackdown Citing Security Risks, Fraud

A Republican congressman has introduced a bill to significantly tighten oversight of the U.S. student visa program, citing national security risks and systemic abuse. The legislation would establish firm visa end dates, expand interview requirements, and impose harsh penalties for visa fraud. It specifically seeks to bar students from countries deemed adversarial, like China and Iran, and force universities to disclose ties to the Chinese government. The bill's backers point to visa overstay figures and outdated tracking systems as justification for the proposed crackdown.

Key Points: US Bill Aims to Tighten Student Visa Rules for Security

  • Bill tightens student visa enforcement
  • Aims to reduce fraud and overstays
  • Bars students from adversarial nations
  • Requires university disclosure of China ties
2 min read

US Congressman proposes bill to tighten student visa rules, cites national security risks

New US legislation proposes stricter student visa oversight, targeting fraud, overstays, and barring students from adversarial nations like China.

"Studying in the United States is a privilege, not a right. - Rep. Brandon Gill"

Washington, Jan 15

A Republican congressman introduced legislation this week to tighten oversight of the US student visa program, saying weaknesses in the system have allowed fraud, visa overstays and national security risks to persist.

Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas on Wednesday (local time) said the Student Visa Integrity Act is intended to strengthen enforcement and limit what he described as long-standing abuses of student visas.

"Studying in the United States is a privilege, not a right," Gill said in a statement. He said the program has been exploited by "fraudsters and bad actors" and argued the bill would protect national security, enforce immigration law and ensure the program serves US interests.

Gill's office said the legislation would establish firm end dates for student visa programs and expand in-person interview requirements aimed at reducing overstays.

It would also restrict transfers between academic programs and impose tougher penalties on schools and officials found to have committed visa fraud, including possible prison eligibility or removal from federal student visa programs.

The bill would bar nationals from countries it defines as adversarial from studying in the United States and would require colleges and universities to disclose financial or institutional ties to the Chinese government.

A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who said he was concerned by the number of students from countries such as China and Iran attending US universities.

"I was shocked to learn how many students from hostile countries like China and Iran are studying at our American universities," Tuberville said, including in his home state. He said there was no justification for allowing students from such countries to attend elite US institutions.

The House bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Nehls and Collins, and is supported by conservative groups including the Immigration Accountability Project and Heritage Action.

Foreign students in the United States are tracked through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, which was created after national security lapses exposed flaws in paper-based monitoring. Supporters of the legislation say SEVIS has seen little modernisation in more than 20 years, even as foreign student enrollment has grown from about 750,000 in 2012 to more than 1.5 million.

The Department of Homeland Security has estimated that about 50,000 student and exchange visitor visa holders overstayed their authorised programs in fiscal year 2023, figures cited by backers of the bill as evidence of the need for tighter controls.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
National security is important, but this feels like a blanket policy. Many Indian students contribute massively to the US economy and research. My brother is on an F-1 visa. The process is already so stressful and expensive. More restrictions will just push talented students to Canada, UK, or Australia.
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Michael C
As someone who works in university admissions, I have to respectfully disagree with the senator's shock. International students, including from China and Iran, are vital for a diverse academic environment and cross-cultural exchange. This bill seems politically motivated in an election year.
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Siddharth J
The part about barring students from "adversarial countries" is problematic. It punishes individuals for their government's actions. What next? Will they look at Indian students differently if India-US relations hit a rough patch? This sets a dangerous precedent. Education should be beyond politics.
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Rohit P
Updating SEVIS after 20 years makes sense, tech has changed. But the tone of this bill is all wrong. "Studying in the US is a privilege" – yes, but it's also a two-way street. US universities benefit enormously from our fees and talent. Don't forget that.
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Nisha Z
My cousin had her visa denied last year after all the preparation. Now I'm worried for my own plans. If they add more in-person interviews, it will be a huge burden for families in smaller Indian cities. The consulates are already overloaded. This will create more backlog and uncertainty. 😔

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