A recent study by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration has revealed a significant disparity in student visa issuance rates between African applicants and those from other regions.
The study, reported by Voice of America, found that in 2023, 74% of applications submitted by Kenyan students were rejected. This rate surpassed even those of the Middle East and South America, highlighting a particularly acute challenge for African hopefuls. Further data from the US Department of State underscores this issue. In February 2024, the American Consulate in Kenya issued a mere 13 F-1 visas, a critical document allowing international students to pursue full-time studies at accredited institutions. In 2023, the denials for other countries included: Ethiopia at 78%, Nigeria at 75%, Congo at 69%, Ghana at 63%, Zimbabwe at 47%, and South Africa at 17%.
Experts in Washington, D.C. have expressed alarm at this trend. They argue that a focus on domestic educational opportunities comes at the cost of excluding talented international students. The Presidents’ Alliance warns that these visa rejections represent a missed opportunity to attract valuable individuals, potentially putting the US at a competitive disadvantage. They further emphasize the lower visa issuance rates in the US compared to European nations, where student visa denials hover around only 10%.
In January, a bipartisan group of Congressional representatives addressed a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing fairness in student exchange programs and visa decisions. They stressed the vital role these programs play in fostering diplomatic ties and bolstering the US economy. These developments come on the heels of the United Kingdom’s recent immigration policy changes. On March 11, the UK implemented a new regulation prohibiting care workers from bringing dependents into the country, impacting many Kenyans.
