Saying Sayonara to America?

The post-9/11 clampdown on U.S. visas for foreign students is being felt ever more severely as fewer students are applying — and gaining access — to U.S. universities. Several academic fields already suffer from a lack of applicants. Our Globalist Factsheet outlines the negative effects on the U.S. economy and U.S. academic institutions.

How significant is foreign enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities?

As of 2000, foreign students accounted for only 3.4% of the total enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities — but they paid an estimated 7.9% of all tuition and fees U.S. universities received that year.
(National Association of College and University Business Officers)

Do students have a measurable effect on the U.S. economy?

As of 2002, higher education — in the form of international enrollments — is the fifth-largest service export in the United States, with nearly 550,000 foreign students bringing $11 billion into the U.S. economy each year.
(New York Times)

What effect do the visa backlog and new laws have on foreign student enrollment?

In 2004, total international applications to U.S. graduate schools have dropped by 32% compared to 2003.
(Council of Graduate Schools)

Are some institutions feeling the pinch more than others?

Around 90% of U.S. colleges and universities have registered a drop in applications from international students for the fall semester 2004.

How long do students have to wait for visas to be issued?

As of 2004, the average wait for delayed visas to the United States is more than 4.5 months.
(National Academy of Sciences)

Which nations have felt the effect of the new U.S. immigration rules most severely?

Since September 11, 2001, 50% of the students faced with visa delays have been from China, 27% from Arab or Muslim nations — and 8% from India.
(Association of American Universities)

Have the stricter U.S. laws benefited the enrollment of foreign students in other nations?

In 2004, foreign student enrollment in Australia increased by 16.5% over 2003. Enrollment numbers for Chinese students there have increased by 20%.
(Chronicle of Higher Education)

Which academic areas are bound to suffer the most?

Since a relatively small number of U.S. students pursue graduate degrees in engineering and science, the teaching and research efforts at many U.S. universities depend greatly on the availability of international graduate students.

(New York Times)