To the editor: Kudos to contributing author Veronique de Rugy for her wonderful and well timed commentary (“What occurs when the U.S. drives away the world’s greatest expertise?” July 31). Per week earlier than this op-ed ran, I had despatched letters to all my congressmen expressing this identical sentiment. As De Rugy signifies, this new rule establishes “fastened admission intervals” for overseas college students that restrict their visas to solely 4 years — no matter time required to finish the specified diploma. If extra time is required to complete their packages, college students should apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers for an extension and undergo biometric testing, background checks and fraud screenings. This “damaging embrace of protectionism” (De Rugy’s phrases) imposes irrational situations unrelated to an instructional program.
Since July 26, 1978, now we have allowed overseas college students to remain within the nation till ending their packages. In keeping with a research by the Financial Innovation Group, of those that do graduate, roughly 41% apply for citizenship and stay afterward as contributors to the American financial system. Solely 17% with a bachelor-level terminus determined to remain. Nonetheless, 50% of these finishing a grasp’s diploma remained, whereas 75% of overseas college students receiving PhDs stayed.
Overseas college students remaining after commencement characterize the world’s greatest and brightest of younger folks and might solely strengthen america. This draconian restriction will pressure a “mind drain” that may solely additional isolate us from the remainder of the world.
Philip Moynihan, La Cañada Flintridge
