NAFSA Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — On May 14, long time bill sponsors, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act (S. 4541). Companion legislation was also reintroduced in the House of Representatives by U.S

Washington, D.C. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has alleged serious abuses of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for international students in the United States. The following is a statement from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. NAFSA, and the international

Washington, D.C. — The State Department released F-1 visa issuance numbers covering May through August 2025, revealing that 36 percent fewer F-1 student visas were issued compared to the same period in 2024. While the drop in visa issuance does not directly translate to the same decline in

Washington, D.C. -- Today, NAFSA: Association of International Educators announced that eight U.S. universities and colleges have been selected to receive a 2026 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. Named after the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, the awards celebrate

Washington, D.C. — The administration issued a proclamation on December 16 that increases the number of countries affected by a full or partial travel ban from 19 to 39, including Nigeria which is a top ten sending country. International students and exchange visitors continue to be impacted by both

Washington, D.C. — NAFSA: Association of International Educators, in partnership with JB International, announced new data today that show that international students at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $42.9 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 355,000 jobs during the last

NAFSA: Association of International Educators, The Forum on Education Abroad, and the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) have pledged to uphold the annual tradition of celebrating International Education Week (IEW) in November. “At NAFSA, we remain steadfast in our belief

Washington, D.C. — Today, NAFSA: Association of International Educators announced a new partnership with Gateway International Group (Gateway) that will provide several scholarships for professionals working in international education at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to participate in NAFSA’s

Washington, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) new proposed rule would eliminate the current “duration of status” (D/S) policy for international students (F status) and exchange visitors (J status) and enforce other changes, such as requiring government approval of changes in major or

Washington, D.C. — Preliminary projections by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International reveal that recent actions such as visa bans and disruptions in visa interviews and processing could have a devastating effect on U.S. local economies. An analysis of SEVIS and State