International students wishing to study in the United States may see their visa fees double to pay for improvements in a database that keeps information on nonimmigrant foreigners studying in the U.S.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program ensures that international students are in the U.S. for the purposes they stated in their application, according to the U.S. Department of State Web site.
The updated fees would double the price of nonimmigrant student visas, officially called F and M visas, from $100 to $200 and raise exchange visitor, or J visa, fees from $100 to $180.
"The fee increases are very minor in the grand scheme of things," said Vasanth Rajamani, a computer engineering graduate student from India.
Teri Albrecht, director of the International Student and Scholar Services Office, said she did not think the higher prices would deter many of the prospective students who are coming from overseas.
"We will not lose students in major quantities, but it sure doesn't help us in promoting higher education in the United States," Albrecht said.
Schools that want certification to use the program will now pay $1,700 instead of $350, and the cost for mandatory campus inspections will almost triple from $230 to $655.
"I assume the fees will just continue to rise as the need for increased operations happens," Albrecht said.
The state department uses the database to monitor international students and the institutions at which they study. Revenue from the increased visa fees will help make the system more efficient and interactive.
"Hopefully we will see an increase in functionality," Albrect said. "We still have a lot of problems with the program because we are such a large school and are not able to do things in mass quantities," Albrecht said.
The program began in 2003 in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, as a way to heighten security concerning foreign students. Two people involved in the attacks were in the U.S. on student visas at the time.
"Students are tracked from the moment they get their visas in their home country all the way through their stay at a university in the U.S.," Albrecht said.
Harshdeep Singh, a computer sciences graduate student from India, said he did not mind the government monitoring his stay in the U.S.
"It makes sense security-wise," he said.
The proposal requires a 60-day public comment period that ends June 20. The new rates are scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.
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