Record Foreign Student Attendance at US Schools

The US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) announced yesterday that record numbers of foreign students visited the US last year.  The announcement was made in the context of “showcas[ing] the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Open Doors Policy of balancing efforts to secure the nation’s student visa system while preserving the rich tradition of recruiting the best minds from around the world.” 

Last month, I spoke at the Regional NAFSA conference in San Diego about options for foreign students to remain in the US after graduation.  NAFSA is a association of International Educators, and is comprised mainly of international student advisors and staff who work with our international student population.  Although more students are coming to the US to get educated, the possiblities for them to remain in the US and apply the knowledge they gained at our schools are more and more limited.  The US needs workable visas for these highly educated students to spur innovation and promote job creation.  If not, we’ll soon see other countries assume the role of the technology superpower that the US currently holds.