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ARTICLE · 04 SEPTEMBER 2023

F-1 Student Visa Issuance Continues To Rise

Berry Appleman and Leiden
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A multiyear decline in foreign-student enrollment in American colleges and universities appears to be ending.

United StatesImmigration
Berry Appleman And Leiden
Berry Appleman And Leiden

A multiyear decline in foreign-student enrollment in American colleges and universities appears to be ending.

Key Points:

  • According to the U.S. State Department, 411,131 F-1 visas for foreign students were issued in Fiscal Year 2022, compared with 364,204 in 2019, the most recent non-pandemic year. The FY 2022 total was also the highest number since FY 2016, when 471,728 F-1 visas were issued.
  • The government expects the numbers this year to continue increasing.
  • Most of the increase in 2022 - 70% - was driven by visas issued to Asian students. Of these 274,880 visas, 115,115 went to Indian students.
  • The increase is occurring despite rising rejection rates of F-1 applicants. In all, the U.S. State Department rejected 35% of all F-1 applicants in 2022, a sharp increase from previous years.

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