Dear Erica,
The U.S. Department of State’s worldwide halt of new student visa interviews continues, at what is a crucial time for incoming international students and scholars to secure a visa in time for fall classes. This is unacceptable. The United States cannot afford to close its doors to the next generation of global leaders, innovators, and allies. Join NAFSA and the U.S. for Success Coalition in urging Congress to press Secretary of State Rubio to resume visa appointments immediately. Be sure to share this campaign widely using our social media toolkit and use NAFSA’s IssueNet to continue to report your experiences with visa interviews, both successes and failures.
Your advocacy action is urgently needed as evidence mounts that this visa suspension—on the heels of so many other damaging actions by the administration against international students—is having a significant toll. A May 2025 IDP Education survey of over 900 prospective international students with U.S. study aspirations showed 44% of them were "seriously considering" other study destinations over the United States. Their data also shows that between January and May, the volume of searches for U.S. study programs on IDP platforms dropped by 33 percent (45 percent for graduate study specifically), a sharp drop that suggests early-stage interest in the United States as a study destination is cooling. New data from the United Kingdom reinforces the point, as compiled by ICEF.
New research by Intead and supported by NAFSA reinforces just how much will be lost if global talent goes elsewhere. The report’s preliminary findings show how valuable international students are to the United States after graduation. If you missed the June 9 IE30 presentation of that research with NAFSA CEO, Fanta Aw on LinkedIn, the recording is now available.
And in the day’s most surprising news perhaps, President Trump offered an affirmation of international students from China and other countries in a June 12 press event. He said, in part, “Look I’ve always been in favor of students coming in from other countries. That includes China...I think it’s a great thing. It’s also—it’s good for our schools. It’s good for—I think it’s good for our country. I’m also in favor of having them stay, I’ve been in favor of letting them stay. If you get educated for four years…I like people being able to stay. You know, they have great students.”
In other good news, the media is reporting that the State Department has ordered embassies to resume normal processing of visa applications from individuals destined for Harvard University, an abrupt reversal of the June 4 proclamation. More information is on our website.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Add your voice to the message that we cannot afford to close our doors to the next generation of global leaders, innovators, and allies. Urge Congress to convey to the Departments of State and Homeland Security that it should be a national priority to welcome international students and scholars to study and succeed here.
Speak up for IE programs at the Departments of Education and State!
Report through NAFSA IssueNet if you’re aware of students who have successfully had visa interviews that were scheduled prior to the pause and if so, which post. Similarly, report any cancellations of visa appointments that were scheduled prior to the pause and which post.
Report through NAFSA IssueNet if you’re aware of students scheduling new visa appointments and if so, which posts.
Thank you, always.
Best,
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
