Tightening US visa rules threaten international researchers and scientific competitiveness
By
Anirban Mukhopadhyay, special to C&EN
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
International scientists in the US are facing worsening visa bottlenecks marked by prolonged administrative processing, new fee and lottery rules, tighter status limits, and broader enforcement uncertainty. The US research system depends heavily on international talent, especially in STEM fields, and these new restrictions are increasingly squeezing international researchers while threatening the country's long-term scientific competitiveness.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledInternational scientists in the US face a worsening visa bottleneck, marked by prolonged administrative processing, new fee and lottery rules, tighter status limits, and broader enforcement uncertainty.
The US research system depends heavily on international talent, especially in chemistry and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
New restrictions are increasingly squeezing international researchers in the US and threatening the country's long-term scientific competitiveness, analysts say.
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