143 applied for the permits, and 98 of the applications are still being reviewed, Commerce said.
The department said it also received one immediate relative of a foreign student entry permit application.
Commerce did not say whether the application is still under review.
According to the department, non-compliance with regulations will result in the disapproval of an application.
Non-compliance includes, but is not limited to, an incomplete application form, the financial incapacity of the student or his sponsor and lack of required documents.
Commerce looks into the qualifications of individuals applying for foreign student entry permits.
It said its role is limited to verifying and qualifying the students through, but the department does not issue the entry permit.
The documents of the qualified individuals are then transmitted to the Division of Immigration for processing.
Institutions that have foreign students are required to report these students’ class absences to Commerce.
