Visa Delays Threaten Fall Semester and U.S. Competitiveness, National Coalition Warns
July 24, 2025
Contacts: info@usforsuccess.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. for Success Coalition Calls on State Department to Immediately Prioritize International Student Visas
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. for Success Coalition, a national alliance of more than 50 organizations spanning business, higher education and innovation sectors, today called on the U.S. Department of State to immediately prioritize visa processing for international students and scholars. The appeal comes following a three-week suspension of new F, J, and M visa appointments that began during the peak season for visa processing of student visas, jeopardizing the U.S.’s position as the #1 destination for top talent from around the world.
"This delay and the resulting backlogs couldn’t have come at a worse time," said Jill Welch, spokesperson for the coalition. "With classes starting in just over a month, thousands of students—particularly from high-demand countries like India—are at risk of missing the start of the academic year. The consequences will ripple across our local economies and campuses, and will have long-term implications for scientific research and our national interests."
International students contribute nearly $44 billion annually to the U.S. economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in every state, according to analysis conducted annually by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. For every three international students, one U.S. job is created or sustained. These students and scholars are critical to America's global leadership in innovation, scientific advancement, and national security.
Yet prolonged visa delays and opaque processing systems are already beginning to deter international talent from choosing the United States. Other countries are competing to attract these students—jeopardizing America’s future competitiveness.
STATEMENT FROM THE U.S. FOR SUCCESS COALITION
The U.S. for Success Coalition urges the Department of State to act swiftly and decisively to resolve the growing crisis of student visa delays.
We are deeply concerned that the recent suspension of F, J, and M visa interviews during peak visa season and subsequent backlogs and delays have already derailed travel plans for thousands of international students and scholars. Without immediate action, too many of them will not arrive in time for the fall semester, undermining not only their futures—but our country’s.
International students invest in America. They contribute billions to our local economies, create jobs, drive innovation, advance America’s global competitiveness and also expand research and academic opportunities in our local colleges . But more than that, they are ambassadors of democracy and American values creating allyship between the United States and other countries.
When we close doors—intentionally or by bureaucratic delay—we send a clear message to the world: that the U.S. may no longer be the destination of choice for the best and brightest. That is not just a lost opportunity; it is a strategic risk.
We are calling on the Department of State to:
Immediately surge resources to process new and returning international student and scholar visas.
Ensure visa interview capacity in high-demand countries during peak seasons.
Collaborate with stakeholders in higher education, the business community, and nonprofit organizations to develop a proactive, talent-centered visa policy.
Ensure both security and efficiency, so that screening processes do not become barriers to opportunity.
The stakes are too high to wait. America’s global leadership in education, research, and innovation depends on our ability to welcome the world’s top minds. We urge the Administration to act now—and we stand ready to support solutions that safeguard both our values and our competitiveness.
About U.S. for Success:
U.S. for Success is a multi-sector coalition of more than 50 leading organizations that seeks to strengthen U.S. security and competitiveness by attracting and retaining talented international students.
