Universities of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

April 23, 2021
The Honorable Brendan Boyle
1133 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3802

Dear Representative Boyle,
On behalf of our institutions of higher education throughout Pennsylvania, we write torespectfully request your assistance in support of our institutions and the over 50,000
international students we educate annually, by asking Secretary of State Blinken and Homeland
Security Secretary Mayorkas to address student visa processing delays that threaten to disrupt
international education on our campuses this fall.
We are concerned with the current status of student visa processing at United States consulatesabroad ahead of the Fall 2021 academic semester that threatens to adversely impact students
planning to study in the U.S. With fewer than four months remaining before the semester
begins, over half of the consulates worldwide remain closed. Department of State officials havesaid a four-month backlog for visas currently exists. Urgent action is therefore required by theDepartment of State and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that international
students and scholars receive necessary visas and work authorizations to travel to the U.S. andstudy in our communities.
In a recent letter to Secretaries Blinken and Mayorkas, associations representing higher
education across the nation recommended steps that would improve processing challenges andenable international students and scholars to make plans to safely travel to the United States:●●●

Assure international students and academic institutions that visa applications and work
authorizations for international students and scholars will be processed in time for theFall 2021 semester that begins this August.
Commit to either a) reopening consulates for visa processing where possible, or b) if
local conditions prevent reopening, waive in-person interview requirements or, wherewaivers are unavailable, allow visa interviews to be conducted online.
Expand student exemptions for academic travel beyond currently exempted countries
and regions to locations where restrictions remain.

Pennsylvania is ranked 6th nationally in terms of the enrollments of international students who
study at U.S. colleges and universities. International students make a significant economic
impact on the Commonwealth – contributing $2 billion and supporting more than 25,000 jobs inthe 2019-20 academic year. Our international students are a critical source of talent forbusinesses, contributing to our national economic competitiveness in cutting-edge fields.
Students who study in Pennsylvania learn about local industries and communities throughinternships, experiential learning opportunities, technical training programs, and collaborative
research efforts.
To secure a visa in time to arrive for the Fall 2021 semester, international students must begin
the visa process now. Our institutions are ready to support undergraduate and graduate
students admitted for Fall 2020 (who attended virtually) and Fall 2021 in planning for their travel
to our campuses. Our campuses plan to be fully open this fall, and we aim for every admitted
student to be able to attend in person. International students are an important and integral partof our communities, and we need the Department of State and the Department of Homeland
Security to help ensure this remains the case.
We respectfully request that you contact Secretaries Blinken and Mayorkas to urge the above
actions that will support robust educational experiences at institutions in the Commonwealth andnationwide this fall. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,

Lisa Krieg
Associate Vice President and Director ofEnrollment Services and International
Programs
Carnegie Mellon University
Rogelio Miñana
Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Drexel University
Sue Mennicke
Associate Dean for International Programs
Franklin & Marshall University
Cheryl Matherly
Vice President/Vice Provost, International
Affairs
Lehigh University
Mandi Haines
Director, International Recruitment
Muhlenberg College

Roger Brindley
Vice Provost for Global Programs,
Penn State University
Hai-Lung Dai
Vice President for International Affairs
Temple University
Ezekiel EmmanuelVice Provost for Global Initiatives
University of PennsylvaniaAriel Armony
Vice Provost for Global Affairs
The University of Pittsburgh
Craig M. Wheeland, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Academics
Villanova University