Dear Matt,
…and we’re back! Hope this finds you well. Lots to catch up on! You may recall that when we last communicated at the end of July, NAFSA and JB International had just released an analysis that predicted a potential 30–40 percent decline in new international student enrollment, leading to a loss of $7 billion in spending and more than 60,000 jobs. We have since pushed this message out to congressional offices and the media, and the media response has been significant. The New York Times, CNN and The Guardian have covered this issue in recent days, just to name a few. We’ve also seen some great local coverage, including this story in the Arizona Republic and this opinion piece in the Youngstown Business Journal. Arizonans and Ohioans are urged to share these pieces with their state and U.S. lawmakers!
Recent data released by the International Trade Administration reinforces concerns about fall enrollment: the number of international students arriving on visas to the United States declined by nearly 30 percent in July 2025 compared to July 2024, including a drop of almost 50 percent for students from India. As NAFSA CEO, Dr. Fanta Aw asserted in reporting by Stuart Anderson in Forbes, this data is the latest evidence that “restrictive policies and visa issuance uncertainties are having an undeniably negative effect on international students’ perception of this country as a desirable destination to study, conduct research, or start a business.” Be sure to keep the pressure on Congress to get involved in fighting for international students’ place on U.S. campuses.
We are also keeping a close eye on efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose a fixed period of legal status on F-1 and J-1 visa holders which would essentially end “duration of status.” While this proposed rule was thought to have cleared White House review last week, DHS has sent the draft back to OMB for further review. We will keep you posted as to the status of this proposal and opportunities for public comment.
One of the most vexing aspects of the administration’s assault on international students is that it is relying on flawed visa overstay rates to justify these actions. In case you missed it, a recording of today's discussion between Dr. Aw and Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, on the myths and realities related to international student visa overstays is now available.
The Department of State published updates to its Global Visa Wait Times webpage on August 18. There is no way to easily discern if those updates reflect an increase or a decrease in visa appointment wait times at each consulate/embassy. Stay tuned for an analysis from NAFSA on this topic. Also, recall that according to a written response NAFSA received from Consular Affairs, N/A means “that category is not applicable for that post” and “the 'Average Wait Time' (B1/B2) column means we don't calculate for that post. In the other columns, it means that post doesn't provide that service."
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced on August 13 that it intends to cut fiscal 2025 funding for more than two dozen Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs, totaling roughly $100 million. Threatened programs include the IDEAS Program, the Mandela Washington Fellowship, and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study. The Alliance for International Exchange, of which NAFSA is a member, quickly sprang into action. More than 12,000 messages in support of these programs have been sent by advocates like you so far. Add your voice to NAFSA’s advocacy campaign! Urge your member of Congress to press OMB to release the funds for these essential and time-honored exchange programs. It is important to note that the Alliance has also confirmed that funding for at least 27 ECA programs is moving forward, including Gilman, Critical Language Scholarship Program, EducationUSA Advising, and Fulbright.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
See you next week!
Best,
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
