A Brighter Red Carpet for Indian Students? Visa Reform as a Driver of American Innovation and Guarantor of Security
Abstract
Thousands of students, tech workers, and other faithful arrive daily at the Chilkur Balaji Temple in the rocky scrubland about an hour's drive from the bustling tech hub of Hyderabad, India. Many come to pray for a chance to reach their dreams in the United States. By completing 108 circumnavigations of the Lord Balaji idol in the inner sanctum of the so-called "visa temple," devotees hope to increase their odds of obtaining legal permission to enter the United States for work or study. Many are students of computer science, engineering, mathematics, medicine or other STEM fields and hope to obtain not just advanced degrees in the U.S., but also the opportunity to reach their dreams in America's relatively lucrative job market. Meanwhile, 9,000 miles across the Pacific, the United States is increasingly desperate for both STEM talent and a strong strategic partner in Asia to counterbalance China. Smarter immigration policy from Washington and some targeted incentives to attract the best students -rather than the hope of divine intervention - could help address these problems, while also answering the prayers of thousands of young people. By easing student visa restrictions for international students, the U.S. would spur innovation, financially secure its higher education sector, provide more workers for President Biden's domestic semiconductor initiative, and help build the ties needed for a stronger strategic partnership with India.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 09, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1210353
Entities
People
- James Hagengruber
Organizations
- Naval War College