Terrorist attacks of September 11, retaliation by America from October 7, Anthrax Scare and now to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world enactment of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT Act) Act of 2001. President Bush undoubtedly has tightened laws by authorizing intercepting wire, oral and electronic communications relating to terrorism, computer fraud and abuse offences. Surveillance procedures have been enhanced. Money laundering which is estimated at US$600,000,000,000 annually, which provides the financial fuel that permits transnational criminal enterprises is sought to be prevented by creating special measures under the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 included in Part III of the USA PATRIOT Act.

In the year 2000, 5,14,723 foreign students were found on the College and University Campuses of America. 54,466 students were from China, 46,872 students were from Japan, 42,337 students were from India, 41,191 students were from Korea, 6,107 were from Pakistan, 1,185 were from Iran, 641 were from Syria, 112 were from Iraq and 110 were from Afghanistan. Since the time it was learnt that few of the terrorists who grounded the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre at New York were students, all the students of the world intending to study in American Universities are worried as to whether now America will allow them to study in their Universities or not. The Senator Dianne Feinstein proposing a bill to close American orders to new foreign students for six months so that Immigration authorities can put in place initial background checks and a tracking system on students added fuel to this existing fire of anxiety. The passing of the USA PATRIOT Act has increased the fear of the foreign students about their admissibility into America on F-1/M-1 student visas.

The USA PATRIOT Act in Part IV, which is sub-divided into three portions relating to:

1. protecting the northern border,
2. enhance immigration provisions, and
3. preservation of Immigration benefits for victims of terrorism;

It authorizes to triple the number of border petrol, custom service personnel and INS Inspectors. Facilities are made to provide to INS access to the criminal history and other information for the purpose of determining whether a visa applicant or applicant for admission to America has a record of criminal history. Attorney General and Others are directed to develop technology standards to conduct background checks and to verify the identity of the person applying for American visa or seeking to enter America. Grounds of inadmissibility found in Section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are increased and the definition of "engaged in terrorist activity" is enlarged. For suspected terrorist, mandatory detention, without charging for seven days, is provided and such detention is allowed for additional period of upto six months if release of such alien will threaten the national security of America or safety of the community or any person. For visa integrity and security measures such as utilization of biometric technology and development of temper resistant document, readable at the ports of entry have been introduced. A detailed foreign student monitoring program is introduced and in the definition of "other approved educational institutions", any air flight school, language training school or vocational school are included. The Secretary of State is directed to review how the Consular Officers issue visas to determine if consular shopping is a problem and if it is found that the same is a problem to take steps to address the problem.

All these additional measures would certainly cause delays for the students in obtaining visa. It will also increase the cost of obtaining a visa and would necessitate additional requirements. However there is nothing in Part IV of the USA PATRIOT Act or in the entire Act, which should be a cause for concern for a bonafide student. A foreign student who intends to enter America genuinely for study purposes and otherwise fulfills the requirements of a student visa will be issued the necessary student visa.