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Written by: Stephen Kennedy-Johnston
Published: 02/08/2005 General Electric CEO Speaks Out Against International Student Visa Limits
Jeff Immelt, chief executive officer of General Electric expressed concern Feb. 7, 2005 with limits that were placed on the issuance of student visas following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The restrictions have led to a sharp drop in the number of international students studying engineering and computer science at U.S. colleges and universities, reports the Financial Times (FT).
“This is a case where our policy to close down on access boomerangs,” said Mr. Immelt on a visit to London. “It moves jobs out of the U.S. and creates less incentive for people to study in the U.S.”
Mr. Immelt joins Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, who in a statement several days prior expressed similar unease regarding the student visa crisis. According to the FT, Mr. Gates described the visa restrictions as “a disaster.” Mr. Immelt suggests the concerns he raises are illustrative of all large employers with regard to the impact the restrictions have had on staff recruitment and notes that the drop in international students is particularly problematic since the numbers of U.S. students that choose to study the subjects has also declined.
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