Letter to the editor published in the Chronicle of Higher Education, May 21, 2026
Reprinted with permission
Karin Fischer’s May 12 article, “The Obscure Rules Change That Could Drive More Foreign Students Away,” is spot on in noting the severe harm new regulations for the F and J visa would cause colleges and international students. The proposed rules call for a fixed, four-year deadline with extensions that are not guaranteed — far short of the six years it typically takes to complete a Ph.D. in physics, for example. Moreover, international student researchers and their American counterparts are crucial to America’s global competitiveness. Together, they engage in cutting-edge research at U.S. universities, leading to innovations that have improved all of our lives, establishing the U.S. as a global technology leader. From the MRI to smartphone batteries to solar panels and more, government-supported scientific research can be tied to myriad innovations. And that research is only possible due to scientific collaboration where international and American researchers are working together.
Additionally, if we cannot recruit the best and brightest scientific talent — both at home and abroad — they will leave our nation, taking their skills to the competition overseas, leaving the U.S. to falter on the sideline. Meanwhile, international student researchers remain on edge as they await the final rules. To offer support, the American Physical Society, the nation’s leading organization of physicists, is providing some guidance through these resources. They are valuable to students from all disciplines, not just physics. Still, too much is at stake for our nation. The federal government should ensure that the U.S. can continue to recruit highly skilled researchers — both domestically and internationally — as they are crucial to keeping our nation globally competitive.
Michael Wittmann
Head of Education
American Physical Society
