Updates from the Coalition’s Steering Committee

U.S. for Success Coalition Advocates to Address Visa Issues

As we enter the high-volume application season for international students, the U.S. for Success coalition has been actively advocating for improved policies and processes to address visa denials and visa processing capacity issues. 

Recent data show that F-1 international student visa applicants have been contending with long wait times and adjudication and processing delays, with consular posts initially reporting interview wait times of 100 to over 350 days. Though the wait times have decreased at many high-volume posts in recent days, lengthy delays persist in many countries. 

In addition to visa processing capacity issues, updated reporting from the Presidents’ Alliance and Shorelight continues to show disproportionately high visa denial rates for applicants from the African continent. Students from Southern Africa have a 19% visa denial rate, but when excluding this subregion, the denial rate for Africa rises to 61%. 

Here’s what we’ve been doing to address these issues as a coalition: 

• The U.S. for Success coalition submitted a letter to the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs expressing concerns about lengthy interview scheduling and processing timelines, as well as disproportionately high visa denial rates for students from African countries. 

• We launched an advocacy campaign in May to encourage individuals and institutions who are seeing these delays and issues to submit letters. Hundreds of letters have already been sent to Congress; individuals can still submit letters asking their representatives to work with the State Department to address these issues, using the Take Action tool on NAFSA’s website. To view guidance for colleges and universities wishing to submit letters, visit the Presidents’ Alliance website here.  Check out the letter template. 

• The coalition endorsed a letter led by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and his Senate colleagues urging the State Department to update its guidance to ensure consular officers follow the FAM guidance and provide all qualified student visa applicants an equal opportunity to continue their academic journey in the United States. As you know, Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires student visa applicants to overcome the presumption that they intend to remain in the United States. According to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), State Department officials should only consider an applicant’s present intent in determining visa eligibility, given that student visa applicants may lack the strong economic and social ties of other noncitizens. However, there is evidence that the intent standard may still be too subjective and prohibitive, especially for those applying from developing countries. The letter from Senator Welch and his Senate colleagues was endorsed by the U.S. for Success coalition as well as the following members of the coalition: 

Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

Alliance for International Exchange

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

U.S. for Success Coalition

American institute For Foreign Study

MPOWER Financing

Council of Graduate Schools

Greenheart International

Global Detroit

AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management

The Association of International Education Administrators

IDP Education

ApplyBoard

World Education Services

Shorelight, LLC

TESOL International Association

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

ICEF

The Brennan Group, LLC

EnglishUSA

Kaplan International

ETS

Protecting Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• The Supreme Court decided 6-3 Loper Bright v. Raimondo, overruling the Chevron Doctrine. This week, the Supreme Court decided Corner Post v. Board of Governors, which dramatically expanded the statute of limitations to challenge regulations under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). These decisions have raised significant concerns within the higher ed and other sectors. The coalition has a working group focused on protecting OPT and will continue to defend and advocate for programs supporting student success and forward-looking immigration policies. Read more in Karin Fisher’s piece in Latitudes. 

Amendments Threatening ECA Funding Defeated! 

Thanks to collective advocacy efforts led by U.S. for Success coalition Steering Committee member, the Alliance for International Exchange, all three FY25 House State Foreign Operations funding bill amendments that threatened the future of educational and cultural exchanges were defeated! 

• Amendment 38 (#158) introduced by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL, 21), which would have eliminated Department of State exchange program funding, was withdrawn last night. 

• Amendment 1 (#83) introduced by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK, 2), which would have reduced funding for exchanges by $20 million, to FY19 levels, was voted down 246-164 on the House floor this morning.

• Amendment 13 (#15) introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ, 9) which would have prohibited funding for the TechCamp program, was also voted down this morning, 254-156.

Together, we sent 2,456 letters to 391 Representatives and made countless phone calls and additional touchpoints, all reinforcing the Alliance’s direct outreach to more than 260 House offices. 

As amendments were debated on the House floor, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA, 12) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY, 5) spoke on the importance of exchange programs:  

“The Department of State educational and cultural exchanges account funds people-to-people engagement which supports our country’s foreign policy objectives. These programs foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries and promote peace and understanding. Lord knows we need this. They allow us to promote our values of democracy, freedom of the press, and civic participation as well as promote dialogue, collaboration, and the sharing of diverse perspectives especially for the cultivation of the next generation of global leaders. These programs also help us understand those who may or may not share our values but we at least have an opportunity to engage.”- Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA, 12)  

“Amendments proposed today zero out funding for Ukraine, for USAID, for humanitarian and natural disaster relief, for educational exchange programs. That’s critical to promoting America’s standing around the world. This is irresponsible policy making.” - Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY, 5) 

We are grateful to exchange champions like Rep. Lee, Rep. Meeks, and your organizations and networks for making this happen! 

Higher Ed Institutions Can Now Become U.S. for Success Commitment Partners

Higher education institutions have the opportunity to join the U.S. for Success Coalition by signing the new Commitment Partner pledge. Building on the commitment of the U.S. government, higher education sector, and business community, the Coalition seeks to support initiatives to welcome and retain international talent in an increasingly competitive global market. In joining as a signatory, institutions express their commitment to supporting policies, initiatives, and actions that attract a diverse pool of international students to the U.S. and that promote their success on campus and after graduation.