哈佛校長：請加快外國學生和研究員的簽證進度

要不然：哈佛校長站隊留學生：請加快外國學生和研究員的簽證進度！

還有一個月左右許多學校就要開學了，然而在特殊局勢和緊收的政策下，到目前為止還有很多同學沒有拿到自己的簽證，真的是很焦慮！

前段時間，我們聽到過很多關于美國簽證“六親不認”的傳聞，不論是科研人員、學者、教授或是學生，美國政府對于簽證發放的謹慎態度我們可以說有目共睹。因此，針對這些“國籍歧視”，耶魯大學、斯坦福大學、麻省理工學院等多所美國名校校長紛紛發聲，表達對包括中國學生在內的國際生和學者的歡迎，并批評和抵制某些打壓措施。

近日，哈佛大學校長 Larry Bacow向美國國務卿 Michael Pompeo、國土安全部秘書 Kevin McAleenan 致函，呼吁他們加快外國學生和研究人員的簽證和移民程序。

Larry Bacow 在信里表示，美國政府圍繞移民實施的一系列政策讓哈佛大學里來自世界各地的教師和學生“焦慮”。獲簽困難、簽證延期等讓學者們出勤或參與大學事務變得不確定起來。

學術本應是開放和協作的，雖然我們支持適當的措施來保護知識產權、國防和敏感新興技術，但是挑剔一個國家和它的公民與高等教育的文化和使命和我們的國家理想是不相容的。

圖片源于公眾號“留學雜志”

Larry Bacow 還表示，哈佛以及其他大學所做的工作推動了“創新”，這有助于塑造經濟，培育新產業，改善美國和全世界的健康和福祉。

呼吁函中文節選

“一直以來，相信國務院和國土安全部和我們一樣，都非常關注并支持美國高等教育工作。最近，在關于國際學生和學者的問題上，不確定性和焦慮在不斷增長。我希望通過這封信向你們分享我對該問題的深切關注和思考。

美國學術體系（特別是研究型大學的學術體系）的成功，是建立在一個充滿活力、自由和開放社區的基礎上，這樣的社區培養人才和領導者并創造新的知識。正是這些大學的產出，共同推動了創新，這種創新發展了經濟，創造了新的產業，并幫助美國和世界各地國家人們改善了健康情況，提升了幸福水平。我承認并支持貴部門的根本作用，即確保來美國的人是帶著符合我國法律的目標和真誠的意圖來到美國。然而，政府系統在做這方面工作的時候，也同時增加了不確定性。焦慮和恐懼在我們的校園中應運而生，這些不確定性正在破壞我們一些關鍵性工作帶來的影響。”

“與許多頂尖研究型大學一樣，哈佛大學吸引了來自全球各地的學生、教師和研究人員。他們不僅僅是大學生活的參與者，也是大學生活的重要組成部分。他們多樣化的才能，經驗和見解促進了新的發現，也給我們的工作提供了動力。目前，越來越多的簽證延遲情況，讓國際學者們無法確定他們是否能夠按時參與大學活動，他們對此也充滿了焦慮和不安。學生們也告訴我們，他們在初次申請簽證時遇到了困難 - 延遲和拒簽。學者們在辦理一些常規的移民程序（包括家人的簽證、更新移民身份或獲得國際旅行許可等）過程中遇到延期和中斷的情況。今年，哈佛大學的畢業生們在申請OPT的過程中也遇到了大量的延誤。這給他們畢業后的工作和醫生實習帶來了極大的阻力。”

“同時，學生和教師們的焦慮也部分源于我們對少數特定國家在科學和安全方面的考慮。我理解有關這些安全問題，我們國家有一個更廣泛、優先度更高的邊境政策——包括撥款需求、知識產權保護以及機構捐贈支持報告。然而，簽證政策要求對來自某些國家的外國學生和學者（有時是已經擁有美國國籍的公民）進行更嚴格的審查，這大大增加了人們的擔憂。學術科學具有開放性和協作性，雖然我們支持采取適當的措施來保護知識產權，國防和敏感的新興技術，但在簽證政策上特別針對某個國家及其公民的做法，與高等教育的文化、使命以及我們國家的理念背道而馳。

也許在當前不確定的環境面前，沒有一個群體比懷揣夢想的年輕人更容易受到傷害。這些年輕人深深扎根于我們的鄰里、城鎮和社區。來到美國不是他們的錯誤。他們在這里成長，現在也正在努力工作、提供服務并回饋他們社區和他們的家園（美國）。我有機會在哈佛大學見到過許這樣的年輕人，他們的決心、才能和追求卓越的精神使我印象深刻。同樣，許多有著臨時保護身份的人們在融入到我們的社區生活、努力工作并做出有意義的貢獻之后，發現自己卻處于危險之中。”

“我理解，目前移民政策引發不確定性的責任不僅在于國務院和國土安全部這兩個部門。即便如此，簽證和移民過程越來越難以預測并充滿了不確定性。這個問題所帶來的風險不僅涉及到深陷其中的個人，也涉及到整個學術事業。

當你們調查和評估如何以最有效的方法解決我國安全問題時，我希望你們考慮以上這些問題。同時，我也希望你們能繼續支持對我們國家學術和經濟做出突出貢獻的、充滿活力的教育機構。如果我或哈佛可以提供幫助，請隨時與我們聯系。”

從哈佛大學校長這封信中，我們可以看出，為了更好地幫助國際學生及學者在美國學習和生活，哈佛大學以及很多美國頂尖大學都不遺余力地與美國政府進行溝通，并呼吁盡快出臺相關的法律法規。所以，申請者和家長們也不必過度擔心，只有提早進行各項留學規劃，并不斷完善學術成績、申請文書、課外活動等申請必備條件，才有機會進入最理想的大學！

呼吁函英文全文

Dear Secretary Pompeo and Acting Secretary McAleenan:

With our mutual interest in sustaining America’s premier higher education sector in mind, I write to share my deep concern over growing uncertainty and anxiety around issues involving international students and scholars.

The success of the American academic system, particularly at research universities, is based on a vibrant, free, and open community that develops talent, produces leaders, and creates new knowledge. Together these university outputs drive innovation that has shaped the economy, fostered new industries, and improved health and well-being both in the United States and around the world.

I recognize and support the fundamental role of your agencies in ensuring that those who come to the United States do so with appropriate and honest intentions that meet the goals and requirements of our laws. However, the increasing uncertainty around the systems in place to accomplish this task are driving anxiety and fear on our campuses and undermining the impact of our critical work.

Harvard, like many leading research universities, attracts students, faculty, and researchers from across the globe. They are not just participants in the life of the university; they are essential to it. Their diverse talents, experiences, and insights drive discovery and fuel our work. Increasingly, visa delays are making these scholars’ attendance and engagement in the university unpredictable and anxiety-ridden. Students report difficulties getting initial visas—from delays to denials.

Scholars have experienced postponements and disruptions for what have previously been routine immigra­tion processes such as family visas, renewals of status, or clearance for international travel. This year graduates across Harvard have seen significant delays in receiving Optional Practical Training approvals. This has hindered or endangered their post-graduate work and, in some cases, their medical residencies.

Science and security concerns that focus on a few specific countries also contribute to student and faculty anxieties. I appreciate that there is a broader policy priority with regard to these security concerns—one that includes grant requirements, protection of intellectual property, and reporting on institutional gifts and support. However, visa policies mandating increased scrutiny of foreign students and scholars (and sometimes naturalized US citizens) from certain countries contribute substantially to mounting concern.

Academic science is open and collaborative. While we support appropriate measures to safeguard valuable intellectual property, national defense, and sensitive, emerging technologies, singling out one country and its citizens is incompatible with the culture and mission of higher education and our national ideals.

Perhaps no group is more vulnerable and exposed to the current environment of uncertainty than Dreamers. These young people have deep roots in our neighborhoods, towns, and communities. After being brought here through no fault of their own, they have grown and thrived, and now are looking for a path to work, serve, and contribute back to their communities and the nation they have known as home. I have had the opportunity to meet many of Harvard’s Dreamers, and I have been deeply impressed by them and by their determination, talent, and commitment to excel. Similarly, many of those with Temporary Protected Status find themselves at risk after having built their lives in our communities, working hard and making meaningful contributions.

I understand that the responsibility for the uncertainties in today’s immigration policy rest more broadly than just with your two agencies. That said, the visa and immigration process is in­creasingly unpredictable and uncertain. This poses risks not just to the individuals caught up in it, but also to the entirety of our academic enterprise.

I hope you will consider these issues as your agencies examine and assess the most effective ways to address our nation’s security concerns, while also continuing to foster the vibrant educa­tional community and institutions that have contributed to our nation’s academic and economic excellence. Please feel free to reach out if I or Harvard can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Lawrence S. Bacow

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