“Peak visa application season is upon us, and appointment delays and other issues threaten the arrival of international students and scholars on US campuses in time for fall classes,” states the campaign, organised by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
It invites stakeholders to contact local policymakers, calling on them to back Californian Senator Alex Padilla’s sign-on letter urging the State Department to urgently prioritise student and scholar visa processing. The deadline for signatures is Friday 7 August.
“Let your senators know that timely visa processing is essential to maintaining US competitiveness, supporting local economies, and ensuring colleges and universities can welcome international students this fall,” said NAFSA.
It comes amid mounting concerns that visa processing delays and long appointment wait times could have a detrimental impact on international enrolments this fall 2026.
While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s final rule ending duration of status has rightly dominated sector headlines in recent weeks, experts say visa challenges remain the most immediate pain point for international students due to enrol at US colleges in a matter of weeks.
“A rule that takes effect September 15 is a future problem. A multi-week wait in Delhi or a multi-month wait in Mumbai for a slot that might not even convert to a visa is today’s problem,” MSM Unify founder Sanjay Laul told The PIE News.
He highlighted a major decline in Indian study visa issuance last year, which fell by 62%, and said the system was still working through a backlog rather than operating at normal capacity.
A multi-week wait in Delhi or a multi-month wait in Mumbai for a slot that might not even convert to a visa is today’s problem
Sanjay Laul, MSM Unify
“We’re telling students admitted for Fall 2026 to book the moment they’re SEVIS-eligible and not wait for a ‘better’ slot, because the batch-release pattern this year has meant slots disappearing within minutes,” he explained.
Last year, the State Department’s near month-long visa interview freeze during peak issuance season was a primary driver of the 17% drop in new international enrolments across US colleges, with delays at global consulates stretching far into the summer.
Previously, the State Department would typically prioritise international student visa processing over the summer, but this year the administration favoured World Cup visitors, while experts said F-1 and J-1 applicants were pushed to the back of the list.
In a recent US survey, six in 10 colleges reported a drop in international applications for 2026/27, with visa denials and travel restrictions the most cited barriers to enrolment.
Following more than 18 months of policy volatility, Laul said the US was no longer the “default first choice” for Indian students as it was two years ago, with families increasingly enquiring about the UK, Ireland and Germany.
