English programs call visa denials a pressing problem
Student-visa denials continue to disrupt English-language programs’ international recruitment, with two-thirds calling refusals one of their most-pressing problems.
Visa denials were one of only two issues, along with low enrollments, named by more than half of respondents to a survey released on Tuesday by EnglishUSA, a membership group of English-language programs.
About a third said they were having difficulty hiring or retaining qualified instructors and other staff members. Three in 10 said visa-processing times were a big headache.
The survey findings suggest that although the impact of Covid is — finally — receding for English programs, challenges remain. Half of respondents to a similar survey last year said the lingering impact of the pandemic was still a major concern.
Visa denials are in no way a problem unique to English programs. In 2023, 36 percent of applications for F-1, or student, visas were rejected, according to the U.S. Department of State. That was a record high — and a far higher refusal rate than for other nonimmigrant visas.
But students coming to the United States for English-language study may face hurdles because American consular officials may be unfamiliar with their programs or question whether they are legitimate students.
Survey respondents said they believed that there were “systemic misunderstandings and biases surrounding attending an [English-language program] as a valid reason for obtaining an F-1 visa.” In a report on the findings, EnglishUSA called for a campaign to raise awareness that English programs are a “legitimate pathway to higher education and cultural immersion” in the United States.
Respondents also said there should be greater government transparency about denial rates and reasons for refusals, as well as more efficient visa processing.
More than 365 programs, or about 45 percent of those in the United States, took part in the survey, which was conducted by Bonard Education, a company that does international-enrollment research and strategic planning for colleges. Respondents included both college-based programs and those operated by private providers.
English-language enrollments continue to grow but at a sluggish pace, about 4 percent in the past year. Japan remains the top-sending country, and more than a third of students learning English are from Asia. Their spending had a $1.2-billion impact on the American economy.