23 November 2007

US sees increased number with student visas

The number of international students with visas to study in the US increased last year. A new report reveals that the number of international students enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States increased by three per cent to a total of 582,984 in the 2006/07 academic year

According to the Open Doors report, published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this is the first significant increase in total international student enrollments since 2001/02.

The number of new students with US study visas increased even more with the number enrolled for the first time at a college or university in autumn 2006 up ten per cent from the previous year.

According to under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs Karen Hughes, "the increase in enrollments we see in this year's Open Doors statistics reflects the dynamism, diversity and excellence of US higher education institutions in a competitive international environment, and demonstrates the commitment of the US government and US higher education leaders to welcoming international students".

Most students came from India, and enrollments from India experienced a ten per cent increase to 83,833.

This is the sixth consecutive year that India has sent the most students to the United States. China remains in second place, with numbers up eight per cent to 67,723; and the Republic of Korea, in third place, increased six per cent to 62,392.

Anyone applying for an American visa should begin by taking the American Visa Bureau's online American visa application to see if they meet the basic legislative requirements.