The letter, dated March 18, 2021, and addressed to Secretaries Antony Blinken and Alejandro Mayorkas, is a formal appeal from the American Council on Education (ACE) and a broad coalition of higher education associations. The signatories urge the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security to act promptly to facilitate the return of international students to U.S. campuses for the upcoming fall semester. The letter emphasizes the significant economic contribution international students make to the U.S., noting a sharp decline in enrollments and related economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns are raised about the urgency of visa processing, as March and April are critical months for students to finalize their plans.
The communication outlines concrete recommendations: prioritizing and expediting visa and work authorization processing, waiving or finding alternatives to in-person visa interviews if necessary, relaxing current ICE guidance that restricts entry for students in online-only programs, and broadening travel exemptions for students from countries currently under COVID-19-related travel bans. The signatories highlight technical, legal, and logistical barriers that hinder international students’ entry and ability to study, especially for those facing internet access and censorship issues. The letter stresses the importance of clear, timely guidance from federal agencies to aid institutional planning and restore the U.S. as a premier destination for international education, positioning these changes as essential to the nation’s recovery and global competitiveness.
