Visas for Foreign Students
(CIPRIS)

September - November 2001 Updates

November 11, 2001
Latest information on potential bills regarding immigration in congress. (Microsoft Word document - 41k)

October 30, 2001
President Bush issued a new Homeland Security Presidential Directive to increase immigration safeguards.

October 29, 2001
Summary:
With the tragic events that occurred on September 11th, and biological threats occurring, Congress is feeling pressure to develop policies and enact laws that meet the security threats the U.S. faces from abroad.

Congressional leaders recognize that weaknesses exist within the visa system, especially concerning those who travel to the United States on student visas, and are looking for ways to solve the problem.

Legislative Activity:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) - Identified weaknesses in the U.S. Visa system including: an unregulated visa waiver program, in which 23 million people arrived with little scrutiny in FY 2000 from 29 different countries, and an unmonitored nonimmigrant visa system, in which 7.1 million tourists, business visitors, foreign students, and temporary workers arrived. She has also called upon INS, the State Department, and private industry to develop new technologies to better protect the U.S. ports of entry and borders from future terrorist attacks. APCO understands Sen. Feinstein is drafting legislation as a response to what she has learned. That legislation may include a six-month moratorium on student visas.

Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) - has introduced the Visa Integrity and Security Act. The bill aims to:

• control visa holders through the development of an automated system to track and determine legal status in real-time via biometric technology.
• mandate and authorize increased funding for the sharing of law enforcement and intelligence information -- including State Department, CIA, INS, FBI, and NCIC databases -- to perform thorough background checks on all applicants.
• boost oversight of all foreign student visa holders within the United States, requiring schools to report to the INS within 30 days of start of the school term if the holder of an I-20 issued by that school does not begin coursework.
• tighten eligibility standards for nations from which visas are not required for entry to the United States.

S. 1452 - Provides for electronic access by the Department of State and Immigration and Naturalization Service to certain information in the criminal history records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether or not a visa applicant or applicant for admission has a criminal record.

October 18, 2001
There is a strong emotional argument around domestic security. As a result, there are multiple efforts to contain and control security risks.  This issue is extremely fluid and changes daily.  A number of senators are proposing action ranging from a moratorium on student visas to restricted screening and tracking procedures.

At the very least, the camp community should expect a serious reduction in the number of available J-1 visas.  We should also expect an increase in paperwork and tracking requirements.

September 21, 2001

1. ACA sought an exemption from this rule/law because the paperwork burden on camps is heavy and, typically, by the time paperwork is due, the counselor/camp staff personnel have left the U.S. and returned to his or her country.
2. In the world as redefined on Sept. 11th, we will not at this time support any additional changes in the law that would risk the national security of the country. 
3. We have removed the call to action from our web site during this period of national crisis.
4. We will be working with agencies to provide better information to camps on what will be expected in the future and how the CIPRIS requirements will affect camps next summer.