The US Underreported the Number of International Students by 200,000 Last Year
While the headline may sound alarming, our analytics team had long suspected discrepancies in the 2024/25 international student data — we just didn’t expect the gap to be this large. The newly corrected SEVIS figures reveal that international student enrollment actually hit a record 1.29 million, marking a 3% increase and signaling strong global demand for US education. Unfortunately, as we all know, the outlook for 2025/26 remains challenging. This year’s earlier visa revocations, followed by the recent pause in student visa processing, have disrupted the enrollment cycle and are already slowing momentum. Sustaining the growth seen in 2024/25 will be an uphill battle.
According to the new (corrected) SEVIS data: The number of international students has increased by 26% over the past 3 years, reaching an all-time high of 1,294,231 last fall (September 2024).
We won’t know the exact impact until September, but the appointment pause plus expanded screening measures could reduce the number of appointments from June to August by 80,000 to 145,000 compared to the same period last year. This translates into a potential international student enrollment drop of 7–11% this fall—from 1.29 million last year to between 1.15 and 1.20 million this fall.
Read more on Distributed Progress >
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Overhauls Student Loans, Introduces Higher Ed Reforms
Last week, we reported the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBA), which was signed into law by President Trump on July 4. While the bill covers a wide range of issues, we’re focusing on the key provisions that impact higher education and international students. OBBA tightens student loan caps, overhauls repayment, ties university accountability to graduate earnings, expands workforce grants, and increases taxes on universities. Notably, it also introduces a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” for international students starting in 2026. While students must pay the fee upfront, they may be eligible for a partial or full refund upon departure. Our team continues to review the 940-page bill and will share updates as we learn more.
President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law on July 4, delivering a sweeping overhaul of student loan repayment and higher education reforms.
The legislation ends Biden-era loan forgiveness programs, tightens caps on student loan borrowing, holds universities accountable for graduates’ earnings, and raises taxes on universities.
More on the Visa Integrity Fee
US to Implement Visa Integrity Fee for Immigrants Under ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
The fee is meant to be kind of like a security deposit to discourage visa overstays and illegal adjustments of status. It is positioned as a way to encourage lawful compliance with U.S. immigration laws while offsetting the administrative and enforcement costs associated with non-compliance. Get the full story on The American Bazaar >
Changes to US Visa Reciprocity Terms
US Announces Major Policy Shift, Restricts Nonimmigrant Visas for Nigerians
Some of you may have heard recent news about changes to student visa issuances for Nigeria and Ghana. As of July 8, students from these countries will now receive a single-entry visa valid for three months. This change is part of a broader U.S. Department of State effort to update visa reciprocity terms, aligning US visa validity, fees, and conditions with how these countries treat US travelers. While Nigeria and Ghana are receiving the most attention, several other countries are also affected. Our team is updating our data to reflect these new requirements. Importantly, visas issued before July 8 remain valid under their original terms. Learn more on Business Insider Africa >
Understanding US Visa Validity for Nigerians and Other Affected African Countries: The 3-Month Rule, USCIS Status, and What It Means
While this news may sound concerning, it’s important to clarify that under current US immigration policy, most international students are granted “D/S” (Duration of Status) on their I-94. This means they can legally remain in the US as long as they maintain full-time enrollment and comply with the terms of their Form I-20. However, the change to single-entry visas does mean students cannot leave and re-enter the US without renewing their visa. The article linked offers a deeper look at these updates and explains the technical details in greater depth. Read more on Agora Visa >
