Student processing finally puts 9/11 behind it

In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, students from around the world were caught in visa application delays that endured for months. Four years later, international student processing is back on its feet.

Curt Devere, director of the office of international students & scholars, has had his fair share of challenges since the twin towers crumbled in 2001.

"I think we went through a very difficult time (in the months following Sept. 11 2001)," Devere said. "Word spread globally that it is extremely hard to get into the United States."

Much of that global message revolves around the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a byproduct of the U.S. Patriot Act. Since February 2003, every college that receives international students has been required to report visiting students' actions to SEVIS.

If a student fails to show up or stops taking a full load of courses, the university is responsible for reporting the information to the Department of Homeland Security.

Internationally, the months after Sept. 11 2001 were rife with visa application delays that sometimes stretched on for months. But efficiency is growing at SEVIS and at the thousands of institutions that receive foreign students. Timing is everything, Devere said.

"Everything is in the context of Sept. 11," he added. "Those days, fortunately, seem to be pretty much behind us."

While many potential students may still be deterred by the image of the United States closing its doors after 2001, DeVere said the system has vastly improved.

"As badly as we were hit, it's sort of remarkable and encouraging to see those processes improved," he said. "By and large the system seems to be working better than before Sept. 11."

Today, no one applying for a student visa should expect to wait more than a couple weeks. Helen Chou, a Taiwanese student at the UW, went through the application process earlier this year.

"[I didn't wait] for long," she said. "I went and had an interview, and three days later I had my visa."

Members of the Bush administration have underscored the significance of international students studying in the United States.

"I have a special message for young people across the world: We're improving our visa process, and we want you to come and study in America," said long-time Bush confidant Karen Hughes, who was confirmed as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy in June.

Devere isn't certain Hughes's message is being broadcasted quite that clearly. Even though processing is now faster than ever, DeVere said there could be a lag in restoring international student confidence in the United States.

Despite restrictions placed on students from the Middle East and some other Muslim countries in the months following Sept. 11, 2001, UW's Middle Eastern student enrollment has remained consistent. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and half a dozen other Middle Eastern countries were represented on campus in the past year.

Korea usually tops the UW's list of student-sending countries, with China coming in a close second. Chinese student admissions have been rising and may even take the lead this year, Devere said.

The 2,560 international students who attended the UW during the 2004 school year came from 99 countries.

"It brings the world to us, which I think is a huge benefit for our domestic students," Devere said. "The world seems to be shrinking, culturally."