Khabarmala Correspondent,
The refusal rate for U.S. student visas reached its highest level in a decade in 2025. According to a study by the international education organization Shorelight, the global adjusted refusal rate for F-1 visas rose to 35 percent in 2025, up from 31 percent in 2024. This is the highest rate recorded during the 2015–2025 period. The report notes that the data is based on U.S. State Department figures obtained through public records requests.

The current decision-making process is said to be weakening the principle of merit-based admissions, as it has created region-based clusters of refusals. When a student’s chances of admission depend more on their country of origin than on their academic qualifications or financial resources, it undermines the credibility of the U.S. visa system. The 2025 data indicates that high refusal rates are now widespread across many developing regions.

This increase coincides with a decline in international student enrollment in the fall of 2025. The report identifies visa refusals as one of the key factors behind this drop. Critics, citing U.S. State Department information, argue that the rise is linked to stricter legal immigration policies under the Trump administration. Since 2025, U.S. embassies had temporarily paused new student visa interviews. Expanded screening of applicants’ social media also caused delays and a shortage of interview appointments. Additional vetting procedures have since been implemented, along with instances of visa cancellations and increased monitoring of international students.

Due to stricter deportation policies under the Trump administration, some students reportedly had their visas revoked and were placed in detention. “If refusal rates disproportionately affect students from rapidly developing regions—particularly parts of Africa and South Asia—it could impact the diversity, numbers, and long-term competitiveness of international students in the United States.”

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, “The Trump administration is maintaining the highest standards of national security and public safety through the visa process. Entry into the United States is not a right, but a privilege, and the safety of the American people is the top priority. All visa applications are reviewed individually in accordance with the law.”