Fact Sheet: Study in the States

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today the launch of the Study in the States website, a new online initiative encouraging the best and the brightest international students to study in the United States–enhancing the nation's economic, scientific and technological competitiveness. This website will serve as an interagency information hub for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its partner agencies to use new, innovative ways to streamline the international student visa process and encourage foreign students to study and remain the U.S.

Why do we need this?

• As of June 30, 2011, there are more than 1.1 million active nonimmigrant students, exchange visitors, and their dependents in the United States.
• DHS and its partner agencies aim to enhance our nation's economic, scientific, and technological competitiveness by finding new, innovative ways to encourage the "best and brightest" foreign students to study and remain in the U.S.
• DHS welcomes nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors to study in the United States and takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that the international student population is informed about student visa rules and regulations and in compliance with student visa requirements.

Interagency Collaboration

• DHS and its partner agencies seek to ensure our national security priorities while facilitating eligible international student and exchange visitor participation in U.S. academic and cultural exchange programs.
• The International Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) tracks and monitors the status and activities of nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors to ensure that foreign students or exchange students gain entry to the United States and that they abide by the terms of their visas while in the country.
• By streamlining all pertinent student visa information into a user friendly and interactive website, the Study in the States initiative allows DHS and its partner agencies to proactively coordinate and disseminate information to the more than 1.1 million international students, exchange visitors and their dependents who travel to the United States to study each year.

What is the Study in the States Website?

• The Study in the States website will be an innovative, interagency portal including information from all federal agencies involved in the international student visa process.
• All prospective and current international students will have access to the website's interactive features, including the blog, videos and public service announcements. Students will also be able to visually navigate the steps of the student visa process on their 'Roadmap to Success.'
• Study in the States links to social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, allowing the federal government to promote relevant information, visa requirements, helpful tips and success stories for international students, exchange visitors, and the academic community.