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Restrictions
on student visas may affect TCU The number of international student applications to TCU is likely to decrease because of new restrictions on student visas, but the university is not expected to lose students because of these rules, said John Singleton, director of International Student Services. Now, according to new regulations issued April 12 by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, foreigners who want to study in the United States must obtain student visas before they can start classes, Singleton said. “This is actually an attempt to close a loophole in which students would gain entry with a B visa, a tourist visa, and then switch over to an F visa, a student visa,” Singleton said. Singleton said each semester, about five students come to TCU on a tourist visa, apply to switch to a student visa, and begin classes while their applications are being processed. He said this is a common trend across the nation. “You can still come in on a tourist visa,” he said. “You can still request a change of status, but until INS approves the change of status, you cannot begin studying.” A public affairs official for the INS refused to be named or comment on the restrictions. According to the INS Web site (www.ins.usdoj.gov), the rules will only affect foreigners who enter the United States after April 15. Also, student status will be granted to visitors who state their intention of studying in America when they enter the country, the Web site stated. Kurk Gayle, director of the Intensive English Program, said that these rules could complicate the already difficult process of getting a visa. “A distressing thing for those of us who are educators in the United States is whether it will either discourage or prevent people, who might otherwise be here, from coming,” Gayle said. The new rules are a balance between ensuring the nation’s safety and welcoming legitimate visitors to the United States, according to the INS Web site. It cited that the events of Sept. 11 demonstrate the need for the INS to maintain more control over the ability of foreigners to change their status once they have entered the country. “The previous rule allowing such enrollment prior to adjudication of the application was used by some of the Sept. 11 terrorists to obtain flight training in the United States,” the Web site stated. “Closing this loophole is essential to efforts to prevent this abuse from recurring.” Singleton said international educators hold that the heightening of student visa security related to Sept. 11 is a bad idea. There are problems with student visas that are not related to terrorism and those issues should be taken care of, he said. “It’s not about terrorism, it’s just about needing change,” Singleton said. “We should improve the way in which we test for visas, but don’t lump international students in with terrorists.” Singleton said many foreigners come to America on a tourist visa because it is difficult to obtain student visas. “It’s much easier to prove that you want to be a tourist than that you have the qualifications to be a student,” Singleton said. Saba Manzoor, a sophomore information systems major said when she arrived from Pakistan she already had her visa. However, she said the process of getting her visa was extremely difficult since visas are only issued in one city in Pakistan. “There are lines for people who want to get a visa,” Manzoor said. “Almost everyday, 500 to 600 people go to the American embassy to get a visa, and out of it, hardly six or seven can get a visa.” Karen Scott, the director of Undergraduate International Admissions, said TCU admitted approximately 85 international students last fall. She said there are no exact numbers yet, but the university has received at least 10 percent more international student applications so far this fall than it had this time last year. “How many of those who will enroll remains to be seen,” Scott said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.” Laura
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