Groups Advocate for Lower Rates of Visa Denials Among African Students

Education champions across the globe are stepping up to address the high rates of visa refusals for African students desiring to study in the United States.

Understanding the Context

A visa denial is a significant hurdle for many non-U.S. students aspiring to further their education in the States. As stated in the Open Doors Report 2016, from The Institute of International Education (IIE), during the 2015-2016 academic year, 31,113 African students were enrolled at institutions of higher education in the U.S. This number dipped to 37,735 in the following academic year.

Objective Eye on Data

This decrease in African student enrollment is largely due to a sharp increase in U.S. student visa denials. Advocates for international education are claiming that in some African countries, the refusal rate for U.S student visas is as high as 65%, significantly above the global average of around 26%. This disproportionately impacts African students and creates a major barrier in their pursuit of educational opportunities abroad.

Efforts toward the Solution

International educators and supporters of global education are taking steps toward resolving this issue. In partnership with leading educational institutions and organizations, they are creating platforms for dialogue and advocacy. Their aim is to promote discussions about standardizing visa acceptance criteria, decreasing the rates of visa refusals, and establishing supportive measures for prospective students.

Support from Varying Quarters

Some universities and colleges are also seeking specific ways to help African students face these visa challenges. For instance, some educational institutions arrange meetings and workshops to guide African students through the convoluted U.S. visa application process. Others offer financial assistance by means of scholarships, grants or tuition waiver arrangements to help alleviate the staggering costs faced by international students when they choose to study abroad.

The Positive Effect

These collective efforts are raising awareness of the problem and the potential solutions. The goal is to empower African students to seize the opportunity to study in the U.S., contributing to a multi-cultural learning environment, and expanding the American college landscape.

The Way Forward

While the task is demanding, advocates for African students are relentlessly working to decrease visa denial rates and create a system that better supports international students. They hope to see all students have access to global education and look forward to a future where everyone, regardless of their country of origin, is given equal educational opportunities.