According to the report, visa refusals by international students seeking to study in the US are increasing at alarming levels. The study, spanning the eight years 2015-2022, shows an almost exponential growth in F-1 visa rejections for students from Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and South America. This accelerated trend has prompted questions about wider implications for US higher education and whether immigration reform, as well as a more and more negative portrayal of immigrants, are playing into these issues.
This Increased Visa Denial Rate.
The analysis, commissioned by the immigrant rights group Law and Visas, shows that the rate of refusal of F-1 student visas has been steadily rising in recent years. The pattern has affected students from a variety of countries, some with over double the number of rejections compared to the years prior. Notably, South American countries are most affected as visa refusals more than doubled, from 10% in 2015 to 24% in 2022.
It was even worse for African students (outside South Africa). Between 2018 and 2022, nearly 92,000 African students who were likely eligible for a student visa were turned away. The denial rate for African students increased to 54% by 2022, followed by 36% for Asian students and 9% for European students.
Why Are Denial Rates Soaring?
Some reasons are said to be responsible for this influx of student visa refusals. There is also the growing scrutiny of consular officials, who are more sensitive when it comes to sifting through accounts and evaluating students’ futures. There’s also a concern over the change in consular staffing and the process for processing visa applications. Moreover, with increasing student visa demand around the world, more applicants are undoubtedly added to the pressure on the visa process, resulting in more refusals.
But a third important reason for the spike in rejections is the dual intent rule, which requires F-1 applicants to demonstrate that they will return to their native land after studying in the U.S. This rule is controversial because it is thought to discourage students from high-denomination countries from applying to U.S. schools since the U.S. is seen as less friendly than other immigrant-friendly nations.
Impact on U.S. Higher Education
The increasing number of F-1 denials could have a devastating effect on U.S. colleges and universities. As qualified foreign students are being turned away from obtaining visas, universities risk missing out on a valuable talent base. International students are also a great source of intellectual and cultural enrichment for American campuses and provide crucial funding — they tend to pay higher tuition, and they support the local economy.
American campuses are a favorite place for international students but, with increasing visa denial rates, universities may not have enough bright students from around the world to fill them. This would decrease the global competitiveness of U.S. universities, which could lose their position as the destination of choice for the best students.
Is the U.S. Losing Out on Global Talent?
But the report poses a very serious question: Are US colleges losing skilled foreign students because of these denials? With more rejections coming, US universities might struggle to retain students from those nations with the highest rejection rate. Therefore, students in these regions may choose other nations that have easier visa regimes such as Canada, the UK, or Australia.
As denial rates climb, US higher education might struggle for some time to sustain its leadership role in attracting international talent. For universities that depend on foreign students for diversity, funding, and quality, their demographics might shift, with implications for their international profile.
The increasing denial rates of F-1 students are a significant issue for U.S. universities. While there are many reasons for this pattern, a more equitable student visa policy is what is needed – one that remains highly protective of national security, yet respects the importance of international students to US universities and the economy at large.
If American schools are to compete in the global market, the visa process must be simplified and more transparent, focusing on welcoming good international students. In the absence of these changes, America will no longer be a leading college and university destination and the possibility of developing the next generation of global leaders will be lost.
In the meantime, the U.S. government and universities will need to reconsider visa policies and remediate the causes of increased student visa denials so that colleges and universities remain a viable option for world-class students.
