Scientific researchers trying to study in the United States face visa delays averaging more than two months due to security concerns, according to a congressional report released on Wednesday. Heightened security measures in place since the hijacking attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have lengthened the visa application process to an average of 67 days for foreign scientists, congressional investigators at the General Accounting Office found. Technical hitches and undertrained staff have led to delays as long as 8 months, the GAO found, compared to processing times of 24 hours or less for applicants in nonscientific fields. The delays are discouraging international students from applying to programs in the United States, the Association of American Universities said.
