IEEE-USA recognizes the urgent need to secure U.S. borders against terrorism activity. At the same time, we urge Congress and the Administration to take appropriate actions to streamline and improve the U.S. visa processing system to eliminate unnecessary delays and allow for priority processing of visitors entering the United States for mutually beneficial educational, scientific and technical collaborations. To this end, IEEE-USA endorses the following recommendations:

• Extend the validity of Visas Mantis* security clearances for international students, scholars and scientists from the current one-year time period to the duration of their course of study or academic appointment
• Establish a timely process by which international visitors holding F (Foreign Student) and J (Exchange Visitor) visas can revalidate their visas; or at least begin the visa renewal process, before they leave the United States to attend academic and scientific conferences, visit family or attend to personal business
• Create a mechanism that will enable visa applicants and their sponsors to inquire about the status of pending visa applications, and establish a rule that applications pending for more than 30 days will be given priority processing
• Provide updated training for consular staff, establish clear protocols for initiating a Visa Mantis review, and ensure that screening tools are being used in appropriate ways
• Revise visa reciprocity agreements between the United States and key sending countries, such as China and Russia, by extending the duration of visas each country grants to citizens of the other, thereby reducing the number of times that visiting students, scholars, and scientists must renew their visas
• Implement a fee-collection system for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)* that can accommodate a variety of simple payment methods that are quick, safe and secure, including payment after individuals arrive in the United States.

These recommendations were originally outlined in a statement released by a broad coalition of scientific, technical and educational organizations on 13 May 2004. The full text of this statement is web accessible at http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/POLICY/2004/051204.pdf

This statement was developed by the IEEE-USA's Career and Workforce Policy Committee and represents the considered judgment of a group of U.S. IEEE members with expertise in the subject field. IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of the IEEE. created in 1973 to advance the public good, while promoting the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 225,000 electrical electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical and professional society. For more information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org.

BACKGROUND

As the world's largest technical and professional society, the IEEE is headquartered in the United States and has more than 360,000 members in 175 countries around the world. The IEEE publishes 30 percent of the world's literature in electrical engineering, computers and control technology, hosts more than 300 major technical conferences annually, and supports more than 900 active technical standards. The IEEE is a leading authority on technical subjects ranging from computer engineering, biomedical technology and telecommunications, to electric power, aerospace and consumer electronics. In addition to publishing scholarly articles in IEEE publications and attending IEEE-sponsored technical conferences, many of our international members serve as volunteers, supporting the operation of the association in a variety of leadership roles.

With the increase in security measures following 9/11, the IEEE began receiving regular notices from our non-U.S. members of problems they are experiencing related to entry and exit from the United States, including:

• Delays in visa processing that make it impossible for non-U.S. members to participate in U.S.-based conferences
• Denial of entry visas on various grounds, often without explanation or opportunity to appeal
• Decisions by foreign students studying in the United States not to participate in international technical conferences because of concerns about potential delays in reentry

These situations have adversely affected the IEEE's ability to do business as a volunteer organization. They have created an incentive to move IEEE technical conferences and standards development activities out of the United States to facilitate international participation, with a resulting loss of financial benefits to the U.S. economy. Such situations are also contributing to an increasing perception in other countries that the United States is a less attractive destination for scientific and engineering education and research collaborations, which has negative implications for the United States. And they have diminished the spirit of scientific and technical collaboration that sustains collective efforts to tackle urgent global challenges such as capacity building, sustainable development and economic security.

Visa Mantis is a security clearance procedure, managed by the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security, which is designed to protect against sensitive technology transfers from the United States to other countries.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an internet-based, information management system used to track foreign students and exchange visitors during their stays in the United States. When fully operational, SEVIS will link U.S. ports of entry and educational institutions with State Department facilities throughout the world.