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Explained: What is the J-1 visa and why is Harvard's use of it under scrutiny?
Explained: What is the J-1 visa and why is Harvard's use of it under scrutiny?

Time of India

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • Time of India

Explained: What is the J-1 visa and why is Harvard's use of it under scrutiny?

Trump opens new investigation into Harvard's use of international visa programs. The J-1 visa, once a symbol of educational exchange and soft diplomacy — is now at the center of a growing political battle between the US government and one of its most prestigious universities. As the State Department launches an investigation into Harvard's compliance with the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, international students and academics around the world are watching closely. Here's what the J-1 visa is, how it works, and why it's being politicised now. What is the J-1 visa and who uses it? The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States to foreign nationals participating in approved cultural and educational exchange programs. It was created in 1961 under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The program aims to promote mutual understanding between the US and other countries through academic, research, and cultural experiences. It is used by: Visiting scholars and postdoctoral researchers University students on short-term exchanges Professors and lecturers Medical trainees Teachers, interns, au pairs, and summer workers In 2024 alone, over 300,000 exchange visitors entered the US on J-1 visas. Why does Harvard use the J-1 visa program? Harvard, like many top US universities, relies heavily on the J-1 visa to host international scholars, researchers, and visiting faculty. These individuals often come to the university for: Academic fellowships Joint research projects Global think tank collaborations Guest lectures or temporary teaching positions Many graduate students, especially in the sciences and humanities, also participate in short-term academic exchanges using the J-1 visa. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Even Beautiful Women Have Their 'Oops' Moments Read More Undo For Harvard, the visa program is crucial to maintaining its global academic networks and upholding its identity as an international research powerhouse. Why is the US government investigating Harvard? On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department had launched a formal investigation into Harvard's sponsorship of J-1 visa holders. The department will assess whether Harvard has complied with regulations governing the Exchange Visitor Program and whether its actions undermine US foreign policy objectives or compromise national security. In May, the Trump administration abruptly terminated the university's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a move that was quickly overturned by a federal judge. This was followed by a presidential proclamation aimed specifically at Harvard, seeking to restrict the entry of foreign students associated with the university. Around the same time, the administration froze more than $2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard, further escalating tensions. These measures were set against the backdrop of Harvard's refusal to comply with the demands of a federal task force, which had proposed government oversight of its admissions and hiring practices. The university has strongly pushed back, calling the investigation politically motivated and a violation of its First Amendment rights. How does this affect international students? While the immediate investigation is limited to Harvard, the implications are broader. If the university's sponsorship privileges are suspended or restricted, thousands of students and scholars could lose their visa status, face travel disruptions, or be barred from entering the US. It also creates uncertainty for future applicants considering the US as a destination for education, research, or career growth. For now, Harvard is continuing to support its international community and helping students prepare for the fall semester. The bigger picture: Education, politics, and global talent This isn't just a visa issue, it's a reflection of a larger battle over academic freedom, immigration, and national identity. With the Trump administration taking a harder stance on elite universities, particularly those perceived as politically or culturally oppositional, visa programs have become part of the leverage. International education advocates worry that this could lead to a chilling effect on US higher education, driving top global talent to countries like Canada, Australia, or Germany. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!

AI screening of J1 students' social media 'prone to error', says Irish-American lobby group
AI screening of J1 students' social media 'prone to error', says Irish-American lobby group

Irish Examiner

time04-07-2025

  • Business
  • Irish Examiner

AI screening of J1 students' social media 'prone to error', says Irish-American lobby group

A prominent Irish-American lobby group has hit out at the new requirements for J1 visas, and raised fears that artificial intelligence screening of social media accounts will be 'used extensively and is prone to error'. The Ancient Order of Hibernians said it had 'deep concerns' over the US Government directive requiring a review of up to five years of social media activity for every J1 visa applicant, which gives consular officers 'broad discretionary authority'. 'But without clear, objective criteria — and human oversight of AI screenings — we risk eroding the integrity of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, chilling participation among young applicants, depriving US government, businesses, educational and cultural institutions of essential summer interns, and weakening the longstanding ties that bind our nations,' its political education chair Neil F Cosgrove said. Irish students usually travel in large numbers to the United States each summer on J1 visas but, under the Trump administration, they now have to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to public. The US State Department recently announced it would now 'conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants' under the new guidance. The Ancient Order of Hibernians said given the way this vetting could be applied, this policy threatens one of America's most successful cultural and economic partnerships with Ireland. It said that officers may reach 'inconsistent decisions' as terms like 'hostility' and 'advocacy', which are meant to be flagged during screening, lack objective benchmarks. For students, the five-year look back on their social media will reach back to their early teens and could lead to treating youthful social media activity before maturity as some form of a security threat to the US, it said. It went on: 'Given the volume of applicants and the vast data set — five years of social media activity per person — we anticipate AI screening will be used extensively and is prone to error. 'In April 2025, PhD student Suguru Onda was wrongly flagged by an AI-driven criminal records check over a minor fishing limit citation in his home country of Japan, leading to an abrupt visa cancellation.' In the case of Mr Onda, his visa was reinstated but J1 students could find themselves already sent home before an error is corrected. The group added that the programme helps to fuel critical US sectors such as hospitality and tourism and businesses on the ground would feel the loss of Irish summer workers. It called on congress and policymakers to exclude any social media content from before someone turned 18, while requiring actual human checks of AI-generated flagged content along with a quarterly report on the use of AI screenings. Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (Amlé), formerly the Union of Students in Ireland, has also raised significant concerns about the measures and said they send a "damaging signal". Read More US visa crackdown is an assault on students' rights

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