# 30 Senators Urge State Department to Expedite Student Visa Applications Senators demand prioritization of student visa applications before the new academic term. - **Source:** [The College Investor](https://brifing.si/source/d431d77d-492e-4105-be7c-2525bbb643ab) - **Published:** 2026-08-14 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a4ca0c3d-7b89-42b7-bbd5-41cb5a24d2a4 ## Urgent Call from Senators Thirty senators sent a letter to the State Department urging expedited processing of F, M, and J visa applications before the new academic term. The letter highlighted the unavailability of timely appointments at some embassies. Senators requested answers to 10 questions regarding staffing and appointment allocation within 30 days. ## Economic Contribution of International Students International students constitute 6% of U.S. higher education enrollment and contributed $43 billion to the economy in 2024-2025. They supported over 355,000 American jobs. Full tuition payments by international students also subsidize costs for domestic students. ## Impact on Universities The decline in international students has led to job cuts and program closures at U.S. universities. UT Arlington projects a $13-15.6 million revenue loss for fiscal 2026, while DePaul University laid off 114 staff. Similar issues are observed at Syracuse University. ## Senators' Demands Senators called for prioritizing student visa applications, extending interview waivers, and resuming monthly visa data publication. They also demanded disclosure of prioritization guidance sent to embassies. ## 2025 Policy Shift A 2025 policy change reduced new student visas by 35.6%, including social media vetting and a pause on visa interviews. This has negatively impacted university budgets. ## Future Implications NAFSA modeling suggests visa delays could reduce international enrollment by 15%, causing a $7 billion economic loss. Senators are monitoring whether the State Department will resume monthly reporting. ## Alternatives for Students International students can explore loan options to meet funding needs, though most require a U.S. cosigner. This adds an extra layer of difficulty for students. ## Conclusion and Importance The senators' call underscores the importance of international students to the U.S. economy and education system. Expediting visa applications is crucial for universities' financial sustainability and student diversity. ## Sources covering this story - https://thecollegeinvestor.com/86335/30-senators-press-state-department-to-clear-student-visa-backlog-before-classes-start/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._