Universities Urge INS to Delay New Student Fee
Posted Aug 03, 2001

In a letter dated April 4, 2001 to the INS, various national associations representing public and private schools as well as universities expressed alarm over a new fee for applicants for student visas (F1 and M1) and certain exchange visa (J1) applicants. The purpose of the INS imposed fee is to implement a computerized data collection and tracking system for all such students as well as exchange scholars. Referring to the fee collection process as "a looming disaster," the associations urged INS to delay its implementation until the problems outlined in their letter, which were previously addressed by the U.S. Department of State, could be resolved.

Briefly, those problems are as follows :

The payment system relies too much on technology, so that it will be workable only for students from technologically advanced countries. The main payment method is via credit card over the Internet.

Another, related, problem, is that the only alternative to this high-tech payment method is to mail a U.S. currency money order or personal check drawn on a U.S. bank. Given the problems with mail systems in many countries, many of these checks may be lost.

Also, with currency restrictions in many countries, it may not be easy to obtain money orders in U.S. dollars in many locations, or to have access to a U.S bank.

Furthermore, the receipt notice may take many weeks to reach the applicant. This additional delay could delay the visa applications of many students, and cause them to miss the starting dates of their academic programs.

Another concern expressed in the letter is the method of delivery for the payment receipts. In many countries the mail system is very unreliable, so that there will be no choice but to use a courier service. However, courier packages can be very expensive, and INS is charging an additional $30 fee for the receipt to be sent by courier. This additional cost is proportionately more difficult to bear for students from the poorest countries.

The letter concludes by highlighting the benefit to the U.S. of hosting foreign students. According to the letter, in 1999 to 2000, foreign students brought in $12.3 billion to the economy of the U.S. The new system for collecting fees from these students is not only a threat to that continued economic benefit, but it also harms the reputation of the U.S. abroad. Prospective students will be deterred from applying to U.S. academic institutions and will instead apply for admissions to other countries. The INS fee therefore would assist schools abroad that are competing for the best and brightest students from around the world, and for the money that they bring with them.

Let us see what happens to this issue. For now, it appears this fee has not yet been implemented.