The American Institute in Taiwan Announces Rising Number of Successful Student Visa Applications

PR0454E | Date: 2004-11-17

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is pleased to announce that the number of student visas issued so far this year to Taiwan students wishing to study in the United States has surpassed the number of students visas issued by AIT during all of 2003. AIT has issued 12,654 student visas to Taiwan applicants in January - October 2004, compared to 11,277 for all of 2003.

In addition, the AIT acceptance rate for Taiwan student visa applications has continued to rise over the past several years. AIT reports that so far this year, over 97 percent of visa applications have successfully resulted in the issuance of a student visa. This compares with issuance rates of approximately 90 percent in 2002 and 91 percent in 2003.

As AIT Director Paal has noted, "We welcome and want to encourage international students to come to the U.S. to study. Although we have implemented new measures to make our borders and the traveling public more secure, we have not changed the basic criteria for visa eligibility to visit or study in the United States. Unfortunately, many international students mistakenly believe that our visa refusal rates have risen dramatically or, even worse, that it is impossible to obtain a visa to enter the United States. In fact, our visa issuance rates worldwide are almost the same as they were prior to the events of September 11, 2001, and in Taiwan our student visa issuance rate has increased."