Regulations for US visas are tightened

New rules governing visitors and students will not affect Irish students travelling to the US on J1 visas.

However, from yesterday any foreigner wishing to study in the US must have an approved student visa before travelling. Previously, a person could travel to the US as a visitor and then apply for a study visa.

The regulations were tightened when it emerged that two of the September 11th hijackers had came to the US on visitor visas and later applied for student visas.Under the new regime, no immigrant will be allowed to study in the US before security checks are cleared.

The US Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) has also proposed that tourists and business travellers be restricted to 30-day visits. Currently, under the visa-waiver programme, Irish citizens can spend 90 days in the US on business or on holiday without a visa.

More than two million people visit the US every year. It is estimated that more than 200,000 of these visitors come from Ireland. The largest number are in the 25- to 34-years-old category.

More than 7,000 J1 visas are issued to Irish students every year to allow them to travel to the US to work for the summer months. A spokeswoman for the US embassy said the new restrictions would not affect this programme.

From earlier this year all male non-immigrant visa applicants aged 16-45 must provide additional information on a new form when travelling to the US.