NAFSA Association of International Educators released a report yesterday urging for a change in US immigration and visa policy to make the United States more open to international students and recognise the importance of migrant workers and students to the country.

The report entitled  A Visa and Immigration Policy for the Brain-Circulation Era: Adjusting to What Happened in the World While We Were Making Other Plans, urges a comprehensive set of policy actions that will enhance United States’ ability to benefit from the important contributions of foreign students and foreign talent.

According to the NAFSA press release, The report urges US policymakers to move toward defining the country’s security objectives more broadly than has been the case in much of the post-9/11 period, stressing that openness to the world is imperative for ensuring America’s long-term well-being and security. It also highlights how the United States has been slow to appreciate and adjust to a paradigm shift in global mobility that has fundamentally altered patterns of travel and work around the world.

The report makes recommendations in the following key areas:

• Visa Reform – Revising the policy on interviews for visa applicants; expediting reviews for low-risk travelers; reforming the security clearance process for visiting scientists

• Comprehensive Immigration Reform – Reforming employment-based immigration; attracting international students; improving management of the Department of Homeland Security

• Identity Documents and Document Security – Revisiting REAL ID

“The Obama Administration has sent a clear and consistent message,” said Victor C. Johnson, author of the new report. “It understands that educational exchanges are integral to US foreign policy and that openness to foreign students and foreign talent must be part of our strategy to get the economy moving. We believe the policy measures outlined in this report will make a significant contribution to achieving those goals. As Congress prepares to take up immigration reform and the administration focuses on innovation and job creation, we believe it is past time for an in-depth look at how foreign students factor in.”

You can download the full report A Visa and Immigration Policy for the Brain-Circulation Era: Adjusting to What Happened in the World While We Were Making Other Plans.

NAFSA’s vice president for public policy and practice has written a blog about the report where you can join the discussion and let NAFSA know what you think.