A study has shown that Africa has the highest rate of disproportionate student visa refusals to the US compared to other regions.
Findings indicate that 54% of African student visa applications were rejected in 2022, compared to only 21% from North America and 9% from Europe. South American applicants also experienced an increase in refusal rates, rising from 7% in 2015 to 31% in 2022.
Rajika Bhandari, a senior adviser
at the Presidents’ Alliance, emphasized that these figures provide concrete evidence of disparate outcomes for students from certain countries, particularly African nations.
Possible factors for the refusals
The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration produced a report that suggests that a combination of factors, including reduced student mobility and limited US consular staff due to the Covid-19 pandemic, may be contributing to this rise.
