BEIJING, June 17 -- The United States will probably issue more Chinese student visas this year than during the previous peak period from 2000 to 2001, Consul General John Morris said yesterday during a press conference at the US Embassy in Beijing.

    "We are sending out a welcoming message to all qualified Chinese students who apply for schools in the US," Morris said, "and we are pleased that the volume of student applications and visas issued in 2005 has so far shown a marked increase compared with 2004."

    In May 2005, the US Embassy and its consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang issued 2,314 F-1 (student) visas, an increase of 52 per cent year-on-year, according to the embassy.

    "Even if the number grows at a modest 25 per cent, we will issue more visas this year than in the peak year from 2000 to 2001, during which more than 19,000 visas were issued," Morris said.

    "An opening-up policy has been held towards Chinese student applications, and more frequent education exchanges between the two countries are in line with our mutual interests."

    Maura Harty, assistant secretary of consular affairs, encouraged more Chinese students to apply for schools in the United States in a speech delivered at Peking University during her visit in early March.

    Harty also clarified what she called a misconception that after the 9/11 attacks, the United States reduced the volume of student visas issued in China.

    "The percentage of visas issued among the total applications stayed the same," Morris said, "but the procedure had been complicated, and there were fewer applications."

    Currently, the US Embassy in Beijing is handling 250 visa applications every day, and the number is likely to climb to 300.

    "Facing competition from other countries, we are very confident of attracting Chinese students because we have so many excellent schools and we provide a large number of scholarships," Morris said.

    According to a week-long informal survey conducted by the embassy concerning applications, two-thirds of the students were granted 100 per cent funding by schools in the United States.

    It was announced on Tuesday that from June 20, Chinese citizens travelling to the United States on educational, academic exchange and vocational training visits will be issued 12-month multiple-entry visas.

    The previous maximum validity of US visas for these purposes was two entries in a six-month period.

    "We are also considering extending the multiple-entry visas to other types of visas," Morris said.

    Lin Taotao, a Chinese student applying for an F-1 visa to study at New York University for a master's degree, hailed the US message.

    "That's definitely good news," she said. "It might be easier for me to get a visa. And with a multiple-entry visa, I will be allowed to travel freely between the two countries."

    
(Source: China Daily)