Presidents’ Alliance Warns: Pausing Visa Interviews Will Increase Uncertainty, Create Chaos, and Deter Global Talent

Presidents’ Alliance Warns: Pausing Visa Interviews Will Increase Uncertainty, Create Chaos, and Deter Global Talent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2025
Contact: press@presidentsalliance.org

Washington, D.C. —  Responding to the State Department’s decision to pause visa interviews for international students, Miriam Feldblum, President and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration said:

“The State Department’s decision to pause visa interviews for international students during this crucial admissions period is deeply concerning. It will generate harmful delays and likely cause longer-term chaos. In the immediate term, it disrupts existing processes and creates great uncertainty for students and campuses. Alongside plans to expand the existing social media vetting and screening of all international student applicants, this decision continues a pattern of administrative actions, including the SEVIS student record terminations and visa revocations, that contradict America’s national economic, academic, and global interests.

If unaddressed, this growing climate of fear, volatility, and uncertainty will weaken our nation’s prosperity and competitiveness. Deterring students from choosing American colleges and universities costs us the valuable contributions of international students to campuses, communities and the economy, and threatens America’s longstanding position as the world’s premier destination for international talent. This is not about quotas, but about talent. A decline in new international enrollments will harm communities and regions across the country. International students fuel cutting-edge research and innovation and expose domestic students to ideas and approaches that prepare them to participate in the global economy. Every year, tuition revenues from international students support programs and funding streams that serve all students on our campuses.”

In 2023–2024, international students contributed nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy and supported over 378,000 jobs, making international education the seventh-largest U.S. service export. Given this significant economic impact, we urge the State Department to halt this pause immediately, restart visa interview scheduling, affirm that the U.S. welcomes international students, and prioritize policies that expand America’s domestic and global talent pipeline, reinforce our global economic competitiveness, and leadership in innovation.