Senior journalism major Pauline Forte hasn’t encounteredany problems with the new program the federal governmentimplemented to keep track of international students. But Forte isconcerned as to how it may affect her future plans.
She would have to go back to France 60 days after graduating ifshe is not accepted into graduate school.
“I’m scared for the future,” Forte said.”I hope I can get into graduate school before I have to goback to France.”
SMU has complied with the federal government’s new systemof keeping track of international students by registering themonline.
All schools with international and exchange students wererequired to register those students’ names with theDepartment of Homeland Security, via the Student and ExchangeVisitor Information System. SMU did so by the Aug. 1 deadline. SMUis in the process of filing the names of international students whohave completed the registration process and are full-timestudents.
Michael Clarke, the director of International Admissions andRelations at SMU, said that the federal government has improved itsstudent visa program dramatically by implementing SEVIS.
“Prior to 9/11, the U.S. government was pretty sloppy inkeeping track of international students,” Clarke said.”Now, SMU has to 30 days [from Aug. 21, the first day ofclasses] to register them so the government knows they’rehere, doing what they’re here to do.”
Still, Clarke said that SEVIS has all the same problems of anynew computer program.
“SEVIS is an untested program,” he said.”Sometimes, it suffers from system overload. Sometimesit’s difficult to get into, or it’s slow inloading.”
Anna Jackson, SMU’s document specialist, preparesdocuments for prospective students to receive student visas. Shesays working with SEVIS has not been too much trouble but schoolofficials are adjusting to a more intensive student-trackingsystem.
“Fortunately, it’s hasn’t been that big ahassle, though there are technical problems with SEVIS sinceit’s a new system,” Jackson said. “But we allhave to keep on our toes and make sure everything isreported.”
Clarke agreed, saying that there is a greater emphasis on thestudents, making sure to report any “triggerableevents,” such as changes in hours taken, address or change ofmajor.
“We can’t just put a tracer on each and everystudent to keep track of where they are,” Clarke said.”So there’s an increased burden on them to report anychanges to us.”
Clarke also thinks this new system will result in a morestringent enforcement of visa qualifications.
“The purpose of the student visa is to be a full-timestudent,” Clarke said. “So you’ll probably seemore deportations since the government will see morestudents’ out-of-status.”
It’s possible that an SMU student might be deported if heisn’t registered properly on SEVIS, but Jackson saidthat’s not going to happen because the university made sureeveryone was registered by Aug. 1.
Clarke is concerned that these new guidelines might discourageinternational students from studying in the United States.
“Some schools have lost a lot of students from the MiddleEast,” Clarke said. “Their parents chose to send themto the U.K. instead.”
Clarke also believes the “increased burden” oninternational students might send the wrong message aboutAmerica.
“I understand why there’s a new system. After all,two of the 9/11 hijackers were here on student visas,” Clarkesaid.
“But I think, if anything, we should open our doors wider,let other citizens see our country first-hand and go back to theirhome country with a good feeling.”
