Good morning,
@Sm1smom
I think I have seen you mentioned something about the Technology Alert List (TAL).
From your experience, how relevant is this to background check for STEM PhD students who are DV-based AOSers?
Thank you very much!
For some reason, I cannot copy and past the link directly into the post. Could anyone please advise how to do that?
Anyway, the info below is from Carnegie Mellon University website. Just google "Technology Alert List".
Due to heightened concern for national security, international faculty, scholars, and students seeking US visas face visa delays/security clearance checks for many reasons:
- Because someone’s name (or part of a name) may be on a US government watch list
- Due to citizenship or residence in a country designated as a “state sponsor of terrorism” (Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria);
- Due to concerns about technology transfer—particularly for citizens from countries considered to possess nuclear capability (China, India, Israel, Pakistan, and Russia); or
- When the individual will be engaged in activities designated on or related to the Sensitive/Critical Fields List* (or Technology Alert List – TAL)
While some clearances can be processed quickly, visa applicants may often encounter lengthy delays for clearances related to the (TAL). The purpose of these security checks are to protect national security by preventing the export of "goods, technology, or sensitive information" through activities such as "graduate-level studies, teaching, conducting research, participating in exchange programs, receiving training or employment, or engaging in commercial transactions”, and to protect the US from visitors who may wish to cause harm.
Regarding the TAL, when a student or scholar applies for a visa, the Consular Official must make a decision about whether the research area fits within one of the sensitive/critical fields listed in the TAL. If the Consular Official is unsure about whether the research area fits into the category or has concerns, he/she may send the visa application to the Department of State (DoS) in Washington D.C. for advisory assistance. Foreign nationals may be denied a visa if their proposed activity is subject to US technology transfer laws. General TAL information can be found on the DoS website.