The number in 2004 represented an increase of nearly 4,000 visas over fiscal 2003, when the United States issued 21,786 student visas to Chinese nationals, said Janice Jacobs, deputy assistant secretary for consular affairs at the State Department, at a news briefing.

    Worldwide, the United States issued 478,219 student visas in fiscal year 2004, compared with 473,715 student visas a year earlier, she said.

    In the first six months of 2004, there was about a 10 percent increase in the number of people applying for US non-immigrant visas, and the issuance rate was up about 14 percent during that period. Applications for student visas worldwide were up 9 percent and the issuance rate was up 11 percent, she said.

    Starting about two years ago, the State Department issued instructions to over 200 US visa processing posts overseas telling them to give priority to students and exchange visitors when setting appointments for visa interviews, she said.

    About 97 percent of the applicants can get the visas within oneday or two after the visa is approved, while about 2.2 percent of all types of visa applications -- totaling about 7 million last year -- require additional scrutiny in Washington, she said.

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