The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposal to increase programs fees for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program will likely be “significant and burdensome” and may have a negative impact on international students, scholars, and higher education institutions, according to ACE and 14 other higher education associations.
Under the changes, F and M visa applicants would have to pay $350 for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System fee, an increase of 75 percent from the current rate of $200. J visa applicants would see their fees increase from $180 to $220. The fee for colleges and universities seeking certification from the government to enroll international students would increase from $1,700 to $3,000, a 76 percent increase.
DHS has said the increases are intended to address gaps in funding for the program.
In comments submitted yesterday on the proposed rule, the associations wrote that these fee increases, along with a broader shift in tone and visa-related policies proposed by the Trump administration, reinforce a troubling message that the United States no longer welcomes members of the international community and exacerbate a downward trend in international student enrollment.
The most recent National Science Foundation Science and Engineering indicators report showed a 2.2 percent drop in undergraduate enrollments and a 5.5 percent drop in graduate enrollments for international students from fall 2016 to fall 2017.
The groups told DHS that they understand that the current fee levels may be insufficient and could support reasonable fee increases to sustain the program. However, they believe the current proposal is “excessive and inappropriate to achieve that end,” and request DHS consider a measured, phased-in approach.
The final rule is expected later this fall.