U.S. Policy Challenges for Iranian Students
Overview of Policies and Impact Student visa restrictions Field of study – Federal law prohibits issuance of student visas for Iranian students seeking to study in a field that would prepare them “for a career in the energy sector of Iran or in nuclear science or nuclear engineering or a related field in Iran,” as determined by the Secretary of State (became U.S. law in 2012 – ITRSHRA). Single-entry visa – A federal policy change in 2010 made Iranian students eligible for multiple-entry visas but excluded Iranian students in technical fields who are limited to single-entry visas like all Iranians. Student visa revocations – Students who had already been accepted into programs at U.S. universities and who held valid visas have been prevented from boarding their flights to the U.S. or turned away in U.S. airports. The majority of these cases were reported during 2019 and 2020, a period of time which saw increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Travel ban – The Trump Administration is expected to reimpose a travel ban that may once again bar visas for Iranians. While a waiver process was eventually mandated in Trump’s first term to enable Iranian students to potentially secure visas