The U.S. economy is bracing for a major setback as international student enrollments are expected to decline sharply this fall. Reports suggest a potential drop of 30-40% in new foreign student arrivals, which could lead to $7 billion in lost revenue and put more than 60,000 jobs at risk.
Several factors are driving this decline:
- Visa delays and suspensions, including weeks-long halts in student visa interviews during critical issuance periods.
- Tighter screening requirements, such as mandatory social media checks.
- Long wait times for visa appointments in key countries like India, China, Nigeria, and Japan, which are major sources of international students.
The impact goes beyond university tuition. International students also contribute heavily to local economies through housing, dining, transportation, and other services. Fewer students mean less spending, which directly affects thousands of jobs tied to the education sector.
Experts suggest that corrective measures are needed, such as speeding up student visa processing, easing restrictions, expanding consular capacity, and making the application system more transparent. Without such steps, U.S. universities risk losing their global edge in attracting top talent, while the economy faces mounting financial strain.
