Student visa delays spark call for faster US processing

Thirty US senators have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to speed up visa processing for international students and scholars ahead of the new academic year.

 

In a letter led by California Senator Alex Padilla, the lawmakers raised concerns over the continued lack of available visa appointments during the peak application period, warning that delays could prevent students and scholars from arriving in the US in time for the start of classes.

 

“We are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates,” they wrote. 

 

The senators also called on the State Department to expand interview waivers for vetted students returning to the US and improve transparency by reinstating its monthly visa issuance reports, including processing-time data. The figures have not been published since September 2025.

 

The push for faster action comes as US universities prepare for the 2026 fall intake, with 63% of institutions expecting international student numbers to decline. The trend is projected to result in an overall 9.5% drop, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE).

 

However, universities warn that the situation could deteriorate further as ongoing delays at US consulates worldwide and a shortage of visa interview appointments add to uncertainty over whether prospective students will receive their visas in time for the start of the academic year.

 

“These challenges come at a time when major academic institutions need skilled, international talent to begin their semesters,” the senators commented. “Without a fix, the repercussions will be felt across the academic and skilled-technical talent pipeline.”

 

In previous years, the State Department typically prioritised student and exchange visitor visa applications during the summer. This year, however, the administration gave greater priority to visitors travelling for the World Cup, with experts saying F-1 and J-1 applicants were pushed further down the queue.

 

The delays have also been compounded by the administration’s expansion of online screening procedures for student visa applicants last year. The additional vetting reportedly added to processing backlogs following the State Department’s nearly month-long suspension of new visa interview appointments in June 2025.

 

Students in Mumbai, India, are now facing waits of several months for visa interview appointments, while visa issuances to the US’s largest source of international students fell by 62% last year.

 

The August 2026 letter comes after a NAFSA campaign urged stakeholders to lobby their senators for urgent action to address mounting delays in student visa processing.

 

The letter asks Rubio to disclose how many visa applications have been rejected as a result of enhanced vetting and what measures are being taken to ensure that national security objectives can be balanced with the timely processing of legitimate international students.

 

It also stresses the vital role international students play in strengthening the US workforce, driving innovation and preserving the country’s global competitiveness. The senators point to their significant economic impact, with international students contributing nearly $43 billion to the US economy each year.

 

Led by Padilla, the letter was backed by 28 other Democratic senators and one Independent. It gives Rubio 30 days to respond to the lawmakers’ concerns and requests.