After months of trying to strike a balance between openness and security, State Department officials have changed immigration rules to allow foreign researchers and students in science and technology fields classified as “sensitive” to maintain their US visa clearances for up to four years.
“This change will ensure that the US continues to have access to the world’s best and brightest scientists, and that’s good for science and for security,” said Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), chairman of the House Committee on Science.
The Visas Mantis program was established in 1998 to prevent scientists from transferring protected technology out of the US. In the wake of the September 11th attacks, the program was tightened, and foreign scientists and many students were required to undergo complete security reviews every time they left the US and wanted to return. The reviews were cumbersome and often took months. As a result, many of...
