Trump Visa Policy Hits Universities

By making it unaffordable for colleges to recruit foreign teachers and staff, U.S. President Donald Trump intends to increase possibilities for scientists in the United States.  On 19 September, the president issued a proclamation forcing companies to pay the government $100,000 for every foreign scholar they seek to recruit.  

 

The expense would be on top of the several thousand dollars that are now charged to sponsor a foreign national under the H-1B visa program. Up to 85,000 H-1B visas are granted by the government each year through a lottery.  That cap does not apply to colleges or other nonprofit organizations, though, and top research universities may have up to 200 faculty members and other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) staff people working for them.  

 

However, that practice could be discontinued by the increased charge, which is applicable to any application filed after September 21.  It was unclear from Trump’s first announcement if current visa holders would also be subject to the cost.  Therefore, over the weekend, immigration attorneys and higher education authorities advised international students to return right away if they were abroad and to avoid leaving the country.