Overview
The American Physiological Society (APS), a global community of more than 8,500 biomedical scientists and educators, submitted the following public comments in response to proposed changes by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding fixed terms for nonimmigrant F and J visas.
APS strongly opposes the imposition of fixed two- or four-year terms, citing significant threats to the U.S. research enterprise and global scientific collaboration. The comments were submitted as part of a formal response to DHS.
Key Concerns from APS
- Loss of global talent. Imposing limits would discourage top international students and postdoctoral scholars from coming to the U.S. to train and collaborate in research.
- Extended training periods. Graduate and postdoctoral training in biomedical sciences typically exceeds the proposed visa limits—making extensions inevitable, costly and burdensome.
- Negative effect on scientific innovation. International scholars play a critical role in U.S. research teams. Fixed visa terms would hinder scientific progress and slow discoveries that improve human health.
- Loss of access. The financial and logistical hurdles of visa extensions would disproportionately impact students with fewer resources.
By the Numbers
According to the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics:
- 39% of U.S. graduate students in science and engineering in 2023 were international students on temporary visas.
- 58% of U.S. postdoctoral scholars were on temporary visas.
Read the Full APS Comment
The following comments are submitted on behalf of the American Physiological Society (APS), a community of more than 8,500 biomedical scientists and educators who work together to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. An internationally collaborative scientific workforce empowers our researchers to take on ever more complex scientific challenges. Academic institutions in the US rely on their ability to attract the brightest minds from around the world to contribute to cutting-edge research. The resulting interactions among domestic and international graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty enrich the learning environment for all.
Moreover, the diversity of training and ideas leads to exceptional innovation. According to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates, international students on temporary visas represented 39% of US graduate enrollment in 2023 with a total of 320,000 students choosing to come the United States to study. International postdoctoral scholars on temporary visas represented more than half (58%) of postdoctoral scholars in the US, with 38,000 post-doctoral scholars working in the United States in 2023.
Imposing fixed 2- or 4-year terms on F and J visas would harm the US scientific enterprise because it will discourage talented individuals from studying here and contributing to our research enterprise. DHS should continue granting duration of status visas, particularly for those seeking to pursue graduate and postdoctoral education.
The path to becoming a physiologist is lengthy. An undergraduate degree followed by an advanced degree—such as a PhD or MD—is necessary to enter the field of biomedical research. The same NSF report referenced above shows that the median number of years it takes to earn a graduate degree in science and engineering was 7.2 years in 2023. Becoming a fully independent researcher in biomedical fields also requires specialty training through a postdoctoral fellowship, and that typically takes another 4 to 6 years.
The length of typical graduate and postdoctoral training means that every nonimmigrant student or scholar seeking training in the US on an F or J visa would need to apply for at least one extension. The process to apply for an extension as described in the notice is cumbersome, lengthy, and expensive, with the costs largely falling on the students and scholars. The estimated costs associated with applying for these extensions would impose a significant burden on students and scholars living on limited stipends, and it would disproportionately disadvantage those with less financial means. If travel is required, these students and scholars may fall behind in their studies and work, further delaying its completion and subjecting them to additional and unnecessary stress.
Bringing scientists from around the world to work and study together enriches the experience for all involved and brings new ideas and perspectives to bear on important problems. Imposing fixed terms on nonimmigrant F and J visas will degrade the quality of US science and should be reconsidered.
Why It Matters
APS believes in fostering an internationally collaborative scientific workforce to tackle today’s most complex research challenges. Visa policies must reflect the long, rigorous training path of biomedical researchers and support—not hinder—the next generation of discovery.
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