As the U.S. State Department pauses student visa appointments as of May 27th, Shorelight continues to monitor global visa trends and their potential impacts on international student mobility. A close look at the last three years of student visa issuances shows that numbers were already declining even before the current freeze.
F, M, and J issuances from June through August, which are typically the peak processing months ahead of Fall term, have dropped noticeably from 2023 to 2024.
Non-Immigrant Visas - F, M, J 2022 - 2024
USCIS Non-immigrant Visa Issuances, All Countries
June: Issuances dropped from a high of 143,549 in 2023 to 121,968 in 2024, a 15% decline.
July: Issuances dropped from 129,898 in 2023 to 112,429 in 2024, another 13% decrease.
August: The most significant change occurred this month with 74,398 issuances in 2023 to just 55,355 in 2024, a 26% drop, and a 30% drop compared to August 2022.
A closer look at India, the number-one sender of international students to the US, only further highlights this trend. Altogether, India saw over 40,000 fewer student visas issued compared to June through August in 2023. This accounts for 70% of the total global decline.
Non-Immigrant Visas - F, M, J 2022 - 2024 (India Only)
USCIS Non-immigrant Visa Issuances, India only
The system was already strained, and the suspension of student visa appointments since May 27th threatens to worsen the situation. The recent expansion of social media screening is expected to further slow processing times, creating additional backlogs. Even after appointments resume, many students may face continued delays in securing interview slots.
Shorelight will continue to monitor these developments through our in-country teams and in partnership with leaders across the international education community.
Source: Shorelight analysis of USCIS Monthly Non-Immigrant Visa Issuances
