The US for Success Coalition has launched a campaign urging the US Congress to take urgent action to expand visa processing capacity for foreign students planning to study in the US for the 2024/25 academic year. Here are the highlights:
Call to Action:
The campaign seeks to improve visa processing by addressing bottlenecks and reducing high rejection rates, especially for students from the Global South, including Africa and India.
Current Issues:
Long wait times for visa appointments, with delays ranging from 100 to 350 days, depending on the country.
High refusal rates for F-1 student visas, with a surge to 36% in 2023, particularly affecting students from Africa.
Impact on Students:
Extended delays and high rejection rates put students at risk of missing the start of the academic year.
The process is especially challenging for African students, with visa denial rates between 48% and 71% in different regions of Africa.
Concerns and Recommendations:
The campaign emphasizes the need for proactive planning to increase visa processing capacity in high-demand countries.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators highlights the need for more staffing and modernized processes to handle the growing number of applications.
Goals of the Campaign:
To create more transparency in the visa processing system.
To build capacity and prioritize visa processing improvements to ensure the US remains a viable destination for international students.
Call for Legislative Action:
The campaign encourages international educators to reach out to their representatives in Congress to address the issues.
The goal is to prevent the loss of potential students due to visa processing challenges and improve the overall experience for future applicants.
International educators and stakeholders can support the campaign by using a provided link to send letters to Congress, advocating for necessary changes to the visa processing system.
