Students face visa delays as new rules take effect

One year and one day after the United States suffered terrorist attacks that spurred a host of tighter immigration laws, three foreign University students missed their first day of classes yesterday because they had not received visas.

One delayed student is a freshman from a Middle Eastern country, and the other is a visiting student from England with a Middle Eastern name, University officials said.

A graduate student from China is also delayed, but his case seems unrelated, they said.

Officials have kept the names of the students secret to avoid hurting their chances of getting the visa.

It is unclear whether the students will arrive in time to take part in this year's classes.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Marianne Waterbury, who runs University visa services, said the two undergraduates have had their visa requests approved but have not received them yet.

"Their local embassy is more than willing to give them the visas," she said.

The student from China faces delays because of U.S. visa laws that ensure that foreign students do not bring sensitive technology to their home countries, said Jennifer McNabb, University international graduate student adviser.

While graduate students' schedules are usually flexible, the freshman and visiting student have missed orientation and the start of classes.

Associate Dean of the College Claire Fowler, who coordinates underclass academics, said the University would work with the students individually to help them catch up.

If the students arrive soon, directors of study at the residential colleges will guide them in overcoming missed classes, she said. Fowler added, however, that if they did not arrive by a time when they could successfully make up missed work, the University would let them begin next year.

"Once we admit a student, we admit a student," Fowler said.

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Waterbury said she has experienced problems with students getting visas in the past.

However, the post-Sept. 11 visa rules have made the visa process more "cumbersome," she said.

Meanwhile, her office is communicating with the students by e-mail, but she said there is little the University can do to expedite the process.

Current international students have not been as affected by the new regulations because most have four-year student visas.

Sister Ivy League universities have faced similar problems. At Yale University about 10 students were unable to return for their start classes.

In May, President Bush signed the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002, which tightened immigration laws. It was one of many laws that U.S. officials said would increase homeland security after Sept. 11.