A GROUNDBREAKING report titled The Interview of a Lifetime: An analysis of visa denials and international student flows to the U.S. has been released by the Presidents’ Alliance and Shorelight. The report addresses the concerning trend of higher visa denial rates for students from the Global South compared to the rest of the world, providing a data-driven lens to the issue.
‘During the eight-year period analysed, spanning from 2015 to 2022, the study found a significant increase in F-1 student visa denials. Initially clustered in Africa (excluding South Africa), South Asia, and parts of the Middle East in 2015, visa denials had spread across much of the world by 2022, except for Australia, China, Brazil, South Africa, and some European countries. Throughout this period, African countries consistently experienced the highest visa denial rates,’ the report revealed.
Rajika Bhandari, Senior Advisor at the Presidents’ Alliance, expressed concern over the visa denials, stating that the US is missing out on global talent that is eager and poised to study and succeed in the country. Visa denials pose a significant barrier to entry for qualified international students, affecting not only their dreams and potential but also shortchanging U.S. institutions, the workforce, and the economy.
‘There is much hand-wringing about why the US is not attracting more international students and yet–as our new and first-ever analysis shows–there is global talent that is eager and poised to study and succeed in the US, yet is turned away,’ said Rajika Bhandari.
Jill Welch, Senior Policy Advisor at the Presidents’ Alliance, emphasised the need to address the root causes of these disparities and work with the government to ensure greater equity in visa processing. The report calls for comprehensive policy recommendations to improve visa issuance for students from the Global South and international students from around the world.
Shelley Landry, Senior Director of Government Affairs at Shorelight, highlighted the impact of high visa denial rates on the U.S.’s share of international students, especially from regions with growing demand for studying abroad. Improving visa policies is essential to attract talented international students and enrich U.S. classrooms, communities, and the economy.
The report aims to support evidence-based policymaking and foster collaboration between higher education communities and the government to address visa denial disparities and ensure that qualified students have the opportunity to pursue education in the US.
The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities and nation. We work to support undocumented, international and refugee students, and advance forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal level, in our states, and across our college campuses. The Alliance is composed of 550+ college and university presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Founded in 2013, Shorelight works with universities across the US to create innovative programs that deliver comprehensive educational services to international students. Its platform connects international students, universities, and service providers to drive student enrolment and performance at scale.