As an international student headed to the US, you likely have been closely following headlines about visa availability, campus life, and changing political policies. Shorelight advisors are always here to help in your study abroad journey — that’s why we’ve put together this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) covering everything that may be top of mind regarding US student visas, heading to the US, and the current campus experience.
International Student Visa FAQs
What Does an Embassy Focus on When Evaluating an Application?
For recent visa applicants, embassy staff have been focusing on whether they are talking with a “genuine student.” Here are several examples of what they are trying to identify:
Did this student choose the school they are trying to attend, or was the school chosen for them?
Does the student have a real conviction about and interest in the school they are trying to attend?
Why does this student want to attend this school?
Why did they choose this school over another school that may be more well known?
Did the student fill out their paperwork themselves?
Is the student familiarized with the student visa process?
Can they speak intelligently about how they have completed their documentation?
Did the student fill out their paperwork themselves?
Is the student familiarized with the student visa process?
Can they speak intelligently about how they have completed their documentation?
What Student Visa Trends Are Expected in the Coming Months? Are Visa Rejections Increasing?
We expect to see a continued focus on “genuine students” who feel strongly about the school they wish to attend and how studying in the US will better themselves and the United States.
There will be expanded reviews of social media (looking back over the past five years) and travel (over the past two years).
Denials will likely not continue to increase (compared to the current pace in Spring/Summer 2025). Denials will still happen, but students will be better prepared, leading to more positive visa outcomes.
Visa rejection rates vary depending on factors like the applicant’s country, the volume of applications, and the decision-making of consular officers. We have found that students who are genuine and can demonstrate clear academic goals, provide thorough documentation, and show confidence in their interviews usually have a high likelihood of approval.
Why Are Visa Appointment Wait Times So Long in Some Countries?
There are a number of factors that affect how quickly someone can schedule a visa appointment: the volume of applications, the amount of staff at a given consular office, and local and US holidays, to name a few. We recommend scheduling your visa appointment as far in advance as you can and visiting the embassy/consular office website regularly to stay updated on any announcements.
Have There Been Changes to the Social Media and Travel Reviews That Happen During the Visa Process?
Yes. Social media review has increased from two years to five years. Travel review has increased from one year to two years.
Are There Specific Steps I Can Take to Increase My Chances of Having a Successful Visa Interview?
There are several steps you can take:
Attend webinars hosted by your school to familiarize yourself with their processes, campus, and student life. Shorelight hosts many webinars every semester, which can be found on our Events page.
Attend the weekly How to Ace Your F-1 Visa Interview webinar, cohosted by Shorelight and Udeti Visa (a team of highly experienced former US visa consular officers).
Pay your tuition and fees early and in full. This increases your chance of visa approval and you can benefit from a potential one-year price lock from Shorelight.
Schedule a visa preparation session with the Shorelight Enrollment Services team once you’ve paid your deposit.
Be very familiar with what you’ve submitted in your DS-160 form. If students don’t know what is in their DS-160 and answers they provide don’t match their interview question responses, it can result in a visa denial.
If you’ve had a previous visa denial, it’s recommended that you schedule a one-on-one visa prep session with Udeti Visa, a team of highly experienced former US visa consular officers.
International Student Career/Work Questions
With Uncertainty Around H-1B Visas, What Alternative Opportunities Will Students Have to Stay and Work in the US after Graduation?
OPT - which stands for Optional Practical Training - allows students to work for up to three years postgraduation. For many students, this short-term work experience is a big factor of why they chose to study in the US.
Work is being done at the national level to better address H-1B and a path to citizenship for highly skilled talent. Results from these initiatives will likely make impacts within the next 12-18 months.
I’ve Heard that OPT May Be Going Away. Is This True?
A member of U.S. Congress has tried (and is trying again) to get a bill passed that would dramatically change the way OPT works today. This bill has been brought up previously (two to three times since 2019) and has never garnered much support. It is believed that only eight members of Congress have supported this initiative. As such, it is unlikely that this bill will progress further in the federal legislative process.
General Study Abroad Questions
What Steps Are Shorelight Taking to Stand up for International Students?
Shorelight works with several organizations to advocate on behalf of international students at the national and state levels. Advocacy groups like the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the U.S. for Success Coalition, and NAFSA all collaborate with Shorelight. To learn more about these organizations and recent actions undertaken with Shorelight, visit their respective websites:
How Does Deportation of Illegal Immigrants Impact Prospective Students Planning to Study in the US?
The current administration’s goal is to curb illegal immigration. The President clearly communicated during his campaign that international students are welcome in the US.
It is critical that students who obtain a visa and come to the US comply with all the rules and regulations of their visa. It is important that students also maintain a full course load, that they get to know the staff at the campus International Student Services office, and that they know and comply with all campus policies.
Additionally, campuses are eager to support their international students and work really hard to ensure they feel safe and welcome.
What Are Good Tips to Make My Transition to the United States as Smooth as Possible?
Here are four steps that every international student should take as they start their US education experience:
Stay informed with updates from your DSO, official government sites, and trusted education partners.
Apply early for visas and maintain a checklist to ensure you meet all application and academic requirements.
Engage actively in your academic program, participate in campus life, and take full advantage of available resources.
Use reliable sources like Study in the States, Travel.State.Gov, and NAFSA.org.
Still have questions? Remember, you can always reach out to a Shorelight counselor for personalized guidance.
