- US student visa arrivals fell 28% in July, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline.
- India and China saw the biggest drops, with declines of 46% and 26% respectively.
- US universities face potential $2.6 billion tuition revenue loss due to reduced foreign student enrollment.
Visitors to the United States on student visas fell sharply in July, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year decline. The drop has been most significant among students from Asia, the largest source of international students, as tighter immigration policies and administrative hurdles have created delays and uncertainty.
According to data from the International Trade Administration, total arrivals on student visas fell 28 per cent to just under 79,000 in July, the largest monthly decrease so far this year. Student arrivals from India saw the steepest decline at 46 per cent, while China recorded a 26 per cent fall. These twin drops from the two largest sources of foreign students highlight the challenges facing US colleges and universities, which rely heavily on international enrollment for revenue.
Universities have already warned that first-time foreign student enrollment is expected to fall by about 30 per cent this fall, potentially costing the education sector around $2.6 billion in tuition revenue. The sharp decline follows a series of policy changes and administrative measures aimed at tightening immigration and increasing scrutiny of foreign students.
The measures have created a climate of uncertainty and resulted in significant backlogs at US embassies and consulates in key Asian markets. Zuzana Cepla Wootson, Deputy Director of Federal policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said, “There are real reasons for concern. It’s part of a broader pattern under this administration. The travel ban, expanded screening processes, appointment backlogs all these create uncertainty for students from China, India, and beyond”.
In May, the Trump administration paused student visa interviews. While the State Department resumed interviews in mid-June, it also required reviews of applicants’ social-media profiles. The timing of these policies, during the peak summer visa application season, has further affected student arrivals. August, historically the peak month for new students entering the US, is expected to see continued disruptions.
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The data does not differentiate between new and returning students. Many already in the US on student visas may have chosen not to travel this summer due to concerns over increased scrutiny. Officials at schools with large Asian student populations, such as the University of Southern California, have said that ongoing declines could cost tens of millions in revenue, with USC already facing a $200 million deficit. Arizona State University President Michael Crow noted that visa delays have been more disruptive than the pandemic.
Despite the recent decline in arrivals, a record 1.1 million international students enrolled in US higher education institutions in the 2023-24 academic year. India led with nearly 332,000 students, followed by China with about 277,000. The recent drop in visa arrivals underscores how sensitive the US higher education sector is to policy changes and administrative delays affecting foreign students.
