THE number of foreign students at universities in America reached a new high of 819,644 last year. Many of them came from China on F-1 visas, which are reserved for students. Chinese studying in America now number 200,000, up from 16,000 in 2003. Students from India, South Korea and Saudi Arabia also flock to America’s top-notch universities.
Foreign students contribute over $30 billion to the American economy, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution, a think-tank. But few are invited to stay past their studies. The number of H-1B visas, which are given to skilled foreign workers, has barely budged over the past decade (see chart). America is not trying to poach bright young minds, say officials. Research has shown that foreigners who study in America bring liberal values back home with them.
But American employers want those bright minds to stick around. Foreign students often study in fields—like science, technology, engineering and maths—where America has skills shortages. Under pressure from business, the White House is considering giving thousands of high-tech workers new green cards. More far-reaching reforms, though, will need the approval of Congress, which is unlikely.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "Coming and going"
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