April 12, 2017
AIT Official Text #: OT-1704E
I want to congratulate all students in Taiwan who have received offers of admission from one of the over 4,500 accredited institutions of higher learning in the United States. Graduates of U.S. universities have gone on to become leaders and innovators in many fields around the world, and you should be proud of the invitation to join this special and select group of young people whose lives will be changed forever by the dynamism, openness, and quality of campuses across the United States.
Offers of admission are the product of much careful thought and hard work, both by the students who apply and by American universities that conduct a rigorous review of these applications. We recognize the energy and creativity you poured into essays about your dreams and ideas, the hard work it took to prepare for English language and other examinations, and the commitments you fulfilled to community service and extra-curricular interests.
Over one million international students are now in U.S. higher education institutions, maintaining the United States’ long-standing position as the world’s top host nation for international students. The United States is also a top choice for Taiwan students, with more than 21,000 students studying in the United States last year. This is a testament to the unmatched quality of American higher education in the eyes of international students and their families and the excellent students here in Taiwan.
International students from diverse backgrounds strengthen ties between the United States and the world, developing the relationships between people and communities that are necessary to solve global challenges. We value inclusion, and actively support students from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and geographic backgrounds on campuses across the United States. Colleges and universities across the United States value international students for the unique and diverse perspectives you provide both in and out of classrooms. American students and communities benefit from the unique opportunity interaction brings to expand their own world views, which helps prepare all of us for shared, successful futures in an interconnected world. U.S. colleges and universities take pride in providing safe, welcoming environments for all their students, and I want to stress how welcome you are in the United States.
When you are ready to apply for your visa, please know that Consular officials at the American Institute in Taiwan work diligently to process student visa requests, and information about the visa process is available at https://www.ait.org.tw/en/nonimmigrant-visas.html. You can apply for your student visa as soon as you receive your I-20. AIT’s EducationUSA advisers stand ready to answer questions about studying in the United States. You can find more information on the AIT EducationUSA website:https://www.educationusa.org.tw/. American colleges and universities welcome Taiwan students, as do the American people and communities throughout our country.
As the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, I personally encourage those of you who have received offers of admission to accept this life-changing opportunity and join your peers in experiencing the unique value of an American higher education.
