Visa Policy and Reports Information on US Visa policy updates and resource for prospective travelers State Department Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection Government Accountability Office Congressional Hearings Visa-related Reports and Statements State Department Business Visa Center A State Department information resource for temporary visitors (B-1 visas) and meeting organizers. Also see visa policy updates Visa Policy Update Department of State and Department of Homeland Security Visa Processing Improvements New Procedures Visa Waiver Program All Visa Waiver Program travelers must have a machine-readable passport (MRP). Suspension of Transit Without Visa and ITI Programs The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State today suspended two programs that allow certain international air passengers to travel through the United States for transit purposes without first obtaining a visa. More… Report of Visa Office Reports of statistical information on immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuance Other State Department Visa News The State Department posts visa-related news on its UnitedStatesVisas.gov site. Department of Homeland Security October 26 Deadline for Passports with Digital Photos See Visa Waiver Program Passport Requirement Timeline on DHS website. (Also see PDF summary) New Passport Rules By January 1, 2008 all U.S. citizens, as well as citizens of Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico must have a passport to enter the United States. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative announcement, Visa Policy Update Department of State and Department of Homeland Security Visa Processing Improvements. Guide (PDF) US-VISIT Program All visitors who need a visa to enter the United States are now photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival. This also applies to all Visa Waiver Program travelers. See DHS US-VISIT Program site. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) New requirements go into effect. See APIS Final Rule Government Accountability Office 2007 Border Security: Fraud Risks Complicate State's Ability to Manage Diversity Visa Program 2006 Homeland Security: Visitor and Immigrant Status Program Operating, but Management Improvements Are Still Needed. GAO-06-318T 2005 Border Security: Strengthened Visa Process Would Benefit from Additional Management Actions by State and DHS, GAO-05-994T Border Security: Improvements in Staffing and Information Sharing, GAO-05-859 Congressional Hearings 2008 Congressional Hearing on Status of Visas for Foreign Students and Scholars The U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology, held a hearing on February 7, 2008, on the Status of Visas and Other Policies for Foreign Students and Scholars. View presentations (PDFs) by: Mr. Stephen A. “Tony” Edson U.S. Department of State Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg The National Academies Dr. Allan E. Goodman Institute of International Education Ms. Catheryn Cotten Duke University 2007 SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION PROMOTING TRAVEL TO AMERICA: AN EXAMINATION OF ECONOMIC AND SECURITY CONCERNS 2007 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY SECURITY THROUGH REGULARIZED IMMIGRATION AND A VIBRANT ECONOMY (STRIVE) ACT OF 2007 Visa-Related Reports and Statements Association of American Universities Immigration and Visa Issues Fall 2007 International Student Enrollment Survey: Survey Report A survey report tracked international students at U.S. colleges and universities. The survey was a joint effort of the following organizations: American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), American Council on Education (ACE), Association of American Universities (AAU), Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), Institute of International Education (IIE) NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC). November, 2007. ICSU on Universality of Science Scientists should promote co-operation, not boycott Annual Report 2006 CSIS Report Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Security Controls on the Access of Foreign Scientists and Engineers to the United States. See also CSIS website on Homeland Security Program Policy Implications of International Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars in the United States Committee on Policy Implications of International Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars in the United States, Board on Higher Education and Workforce, National Research Council National Academies Press 2005

Revised: 9 April 2008