ACE Urges State Department to Prioritize Student Visa Processing Ahead of Fall

This is a problem that has been unfolding for over a year; the visa freeze last spring, expanded social media vetting requirements, the travel ban, and the campaign against Harvard's ability to enroll international students-all of these have introduced uncertainty for prospective students and scholars. New international student enrollment dropped by 17 percent last fall, a historic decline not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, driven significantly by visa and immigration restrictions. The pipeline of graduate students, particularly in STEM fields, is showing real strain.

But against that backdrop, it's even more important that the government move quickly and efficiently during peak visa season. Delays compound quickly when consular posts lack clear direction, and students who can't arrive in time for the fall semester will make other plans. This is especially concerning in light of reports from applicants about these delays as well as the new vetting, which takes additional time by a State Department that has seen numerous staff cuts from last year's layoffs.

The associations also are asking the State Department for a briefing on how the new screening policies are being implemented and what institutions can expect going into the fall. President Trump has publicly said several times that cutting off international students from colleges and universities would be harmful to our nation's interests. ACE and the other associations are requesting the administration act accordingly.