IDP student survey shows concerns over USA visas and post-study stays

The global pulse survey of 934 students, which was conducted by IDP Education between 12th and 22nd May, found that the proportion of students with a more negative view of the USA since President Trump took office stood at 36 per cent, an increase compared with 26 per cent in the previous survey in January.

More than half of respondents (58 per cent) said they expected US policy changes to negatively impact on their student plans, while 87 per cent said they were concerned about possible changes to visa or work conditions under the new administration.

And two-thirds of students surveyed (66 per cent) believed that it will now be harder to obtain a visa to study in the USA.

Source – IDP Education.

The survey was conducted before Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause on new student visa interviews on May 27th and travel restrictions on 19 countries were unveiled by President Trump on June 4th – suggesting that perceptions are likely to weaken further.

After a three-week delay, the Department of State signaled last week that visa interviews could resume with new student visa vetting procedures in place, including a stipulation that students will have to make their accounts public.

In the IDP survey, students from Bangladesh were most concerned about student visas becoming harder to obtain (80 per cent), followed by those from China (74 per cent), Nepal (66), India (65), Pakistan (62), Ghana (60) and Kenya (60).

The survey was also conducted prior to comments by Secretary Rubio about student visas being “aggressively revoked” from Chinese students “including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields”.

The proportion of students only considering the USA as a study destination has dropped from 32 per cent previously to 26 per cent, while interest in rival English-speaking destinations increased, IDP said.

“While our latest pulse survey shows that students still see the USA as a highly favorable destination overall, there are clear signs that sentiment is shifting as a result of the changing policy environment,” said Simon Emmett, Chief Partner Officer at IDP Education.

Source – IDP Education

“Importantly, students aren’t giving up on their global ambitions because of the political uncertainty in the USA. Instead, they are looking to alternative study destinations where they can pursue their dreams with greater confidence and stability,” said Simon.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent of students surveyed expect it to be more difficult to remain in the USA after graduation. IDP said that these concerns were more common among students from Canada, Bangladesh and India.

There are concerns over the future of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) scheme of post-study work in the sector after Joseph Edlow, the President’s pick to be Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), indicated a desire to end the program during a Senate confirmation hearing on 21st May.

The recent SEVIS by the Numbers report on student visa holders in 2024 by the Department of Homeland Security shows that India and China were the most common participants in the OPT STEM extension scheme.

“The USA continues to be viewed as a global leader in education, but that reputation alone isn’t enough to counter uncertainty,” said Simon.

“This data is a call to action for the international education sector. Students are making life-changing decisions with limited or outdated information. Governments, institutions, and student placement organizations must provide clarity and proactively inform prospective students of the policy shifts in study destinations,” he said.

The IDP student survey findings echo a recent report by Studyportals that showed pageviews of bachelor and master’s programs in the USA declined by 50 per cent between the beginning of January and the end of April, with interest at the lowest level since August 2020.

IDP Education places higher education students at partner universities in the major English-speaking destinations and co-owns the IELTS English language test. The company recently flagged an anticipated decrease in placements and revenue in the current financial year, citing changes and negative policy environments in its main destinations.