August 19, 2022

USA Reduce Number of Visas for Chinese Students as Demand Declines

A According to recent data, the US granted 50% fewer visas to new Chinese students in the first half of 2022 than it did before the pandemic, raising concerns about the country's declining influence. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, China had sent 369,548 students to the US in 2019, more than any other country had done for the previous ten years in a row. According to Wall Street Journal data, 31,055 academic visas have been issued to Chinese nationals since 2019, representing a significant decrease from previous years.

Despite the fact that the numbers appear to be declining, international education experts believe this is a short-term trend that will reverse in the coming quarters.

…the US was already behind the United Kingdom in 2019… the UK has vastly outpaced the US and demonstrated the most interest out of all study destinations worldwide, since before the pandemic...

While many experts blame COVID, others argue that the number of Chinese students applying to American universities dropped prior to the pandemic, with one expert claiming that political tensions between the governments played a significant role. Data from BOSSA, a federation of Chinese study abroad agencies, shows a long-term decline in interest in the United States as a potential study destination among prospective students and families. "The US was already behind the United Kingdom in 2019. "The UK has vastly outpaced the US and demonstrated the most interest of all study destinations worldwide since before the pandemic," said a source from BOSSA.

Some stakeholders believe that the growing popularity of English-speaking countries such as Ireland and the United Kingdom is also contributing to the decline in Chinese students.

While the decline in numbers is concerning for the United States, an expert believes the trend will not be long-term, predicting that the US market will "bounce back," though the country may no longer "dominate" in China as other destinations gain popularity. She explained that "it depends on whether [US] educators are willing to put in more effort and invest more money in the Chinese market.

Posted in News and tagged News, USA, UK, China, Student Visa, BOSSA
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