Policy Priorities

On May 27, the U.S. Department of State announced a halt in scheduling new F, J, and M visa interview appointments. With every day that passes, it becomes increasingly difficult for international students and scholars to arrive on U.S. campuses before the start of the fall semester, jeopardizing the contributions they make to every corner of the United States. 

NAFSA remains committed to its long-standing priorities of ensuring the global competency of U.S. college graduates through expanding access to study abroad and attracting and retaining the best and brightest international talent.

NAFSA advocates for increased federal funding to ensure U.S. colleges and universities can recruit global student talent and prepare graduates with the skills necessary for future workforce success. Congress passed a continuing resolution in March 2025 to keep federal agencies funded at their current levels until September 30, 2025.

To make study abroad the norm, not the exception, for today's U.S. college students, Congress should support the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act to incentivize higher education to increase study abroad and provide a cost-effective, sustainable way to ensure more U.S. undergraduates can study internationally.