This story in the New York Times reports on difficulties that seem to be more common for international students and scholars in the US. Obtaining visa documents takes more time, and the length of time required is not predictable.
The problems are attributed to a shortage of staff in the US State Department. However, students and visiting scholars can find delays costly, stressful and sometimes, career-altering.
If the delays persist, Missouri's best and brightest international students and visiting scholars may choose to further their research in a different country. This would greatly diminish our research capacity and our abilities to prepare students to communicate across cultures.
