NEW HAVEN, Connecticut ¨C For generations, the United States distinguished itself not simply by its wealth or military power, but by offering ambitious people born in other countries the chance to overcome the birthplace lottery. Unfortunately, the Trump administration¡¯s new visa policy for international students, though billed as merely a technical administrative change, signals a gradual retreat from this defining ideal.
By replacing the longstanding ¡°duration-of-status¡± framework with fixed admission periods and stricter rules governing extensions and continued enrollment, it makes the path to studying in America, and ultimately building a productive life there, more uncertain.
Many of those commenting on the change have focused on the implications for universities, research and innovation. But as valid as those concerns are, they may overstate the immediate consequences. The most talented students will still find ways to come to the U.S., leading universities will continue to recruit them and employers will continue to sponsor them. The policy raises costs and creates uncertainty, but it does not shut the door completely.
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