Foreign Students : Visa Review in Sensitive Areas of Study
Posted Aug 23, 2002

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) briefed the higher education community on May 7, 2002 regarding OSTP's intention to implement "an enhanced mechanism for visa review" for foreign nationals seeking to study in certain sensitive areas of science and technology. This review would be limited to those areas of study that are "uniquely available in the United States." The review procedure would be designed to identify those persons whose purpose in acquiring knowledge is to harm the United States or its allies.

OSTP advised that the review would be performed on a case-by-case basis, without any particular list of prohibited majors or courses. It is expected that this review will primarily affect graduate and post-doctoral students, rather than undergraduate students who study more general scientific and technological subjects, unlikely to be "uniquely available in the United States."

The review will be conducted by the Interagency Panel on Advanced Science and Security (IPASS). The multidisciplinary panel, chaired by the U.S. Departments of State (DOS) and Justice (DOJ), will review visa applications for study in potentially sensitive areas. These applications will be received by referral from either the DOS, for persons making application outside the U.S., and INS, for existing students requesting to transfer programs. The panel will issue advisory opinions rather than make final decisions.

IPASS will consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to: the background, education and training of the student; the country of origin; the field of research; and the nature of the work being conducted at the school the person wishes to attend.

IPASS will regularly evaluate emerging sensitive areas of science and technology, the availability of these technologies, and the particular terrorist organizations that may be interested in the technologies. Fields of study that become available in countries other than the U.S. will be eliminated from the IPASS list.