U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) reported a drop of 72 percent in new international student enrollment in U.S. schools in 2020 as compared to calendar year 2019. Decreases were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump-era immigration policies. The annual report, which presents data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, also noted that international students chose business administration as a major most often in 2020, followed by second-language learning and computer science.
Also, according to the report:
- The total number of SEVIS records for active F-1 and M-1 students was 1,251,569 in calendar year 2020, a decrease of 17.86 percent from calendar year 2019.
- There were 122,699 pre- and post-completion optional practical training (OPT) students with an employment authorization document who reported working for an employer in calendar year 2020, compared to 138,898 in calendar year 2019-a nearly 12 percent decrease.
- Chinese student enrollment declined in 2020 compared with 2019 (down by 91,936). Indian student enrollment also decreased (down by 41,761 in 2020 versus 2019).
Details:
- SEVIS by the Numbers, Mar. 22, 2021, https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/sevisBTN2020.pdf
- SEVIS report announcement, https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2021/03/read-the-2020-sevis-by-the-numbers-report
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