Urge Congress to Attract and Retain International Students

International students, scholars, and their families bring significant academic, cultural, and economic benefits to the United States.

They enrich the perspectives of U.S. students, drive innovation in our workplaces, and contribute to their local economies. At less than 6 percent of total U.S. college enrollment, international students make outsized contributions to our economy and society. Yet an outdated immigration system and inefficient visa processing, in addition to harmful executive actions that involve extreme vetting, push them toward other countries.

To attract and retain international student talent that helps fuel our economy, innovation, and workforce development, urge your members of Congress to support policy changes and secure and efficient visa and immigration processing to grow international student enrollment in the United States.

Urge Your Representative to Attract and Retain International Students

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Dear {{legislator_title_last_name}},

My name is {{first_name}} {{last_name}}.  I am writing to encourage your support for policies and processes that will make the United States more attractive to international student talent.

International students, scholars, and their families bring significant academic, cultural, and economic benefits to the United States.

They enrich the perspectives of U.S. students, drive innovation in our workplaces, and contribute to their local economies. A former international student from India, for example, developed the technology to compress video data, making possible the advent of Zoom and Facetime.

NAFSA's analysis finds that international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion and supported 378,175 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year.

At less than 6 percent of total U.S. college enrollment, international students make outsized contributions to our economy and society. Yet an outdated immigration system and inefficient visa processing, in addition to harmful executive actions that involve extreme vetting, push them toward other countries.

To attract and retain international student talent that helps fuel our economy, innovation, and workforce development, we urge support for:

--using congressional authority to ensure secure and efficient visa and immigration benefit processing.

--creating a path to a green card for international student graduates and,

--expanding dual intent for F-1 students to allow issuance of F visas even if the student expresses a desire to remain in the U.S. after graduating.

Please consider an issue brief prepared by NAFSA: Association of International Educators from more information: https://www.nafsa.org/issue-brief-america-risks-losing-international-student-talent

Thank you for your consideration of this important request to bolster U.S. global competitiveness, workforce development, and economic strength.

Sincerely,
{{full_name}}
{{city_and_state}}

Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor the Keep STEM Talent Act

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Urge Congress to Attract and Retain International Students

Act now!