Survey highlights the disruptive effects of visa delays on international students

New survey findings from global international education services firm INTO show that many students are experiencing visa processing delays so significant that study abroad plans are being disrupted.

The 2024-25 INTO Arrival survey was conducted among 2,261 international students from over 100 countries enrolling in universities in the UK and US. The survey revealed that in addition to visa issues, barriers to study abroad include financial concerns related to unpredictable costs of living and studying.

Visa delays have several negative impacts

The survey found that:

• One in five (21%) students reported visa appointment and processing delays as the top reason for postponing their confirmation of university placement, rising to 28% in South Asia.
• Of students who missed orientation services offered by their institution, 45% said that visa issues were the reason.

Of all students who reported visa delays, about 20% said visa delays added at least a month to the timing of their response to an admissions offer.

These findings indicate that many students’ journeys to enrolment – and first impressions of their institution – are poorer because of unreliable visa processes outside of their control.

INTO CEO John Sykes said:

“These findings serve as a powerful message for governments, educational authorities, and universities to work together in addressing visa delays, ensuring students are supported in their aspirations to study abroad. At INTO, we are dedicated to overcoming these challenges, driving positive change in international education, and continuing to create transformative opportunities for students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.” 

Students are applying to more institutions in more destinations

The work of admissions staff is complicated by students postponing their studies because of visa delays. In addition, staff are dealing with more unpredictability than ever due to a growing trend of students applying to multiple institutions.

In 2024/25, students enrolling in INTO-partnered UK universities said they had applied on average to +21% more higher education institutions than had those who had enrolled in 2022/23. Similarly, surveyed international graduate students applying to US universities in 2024/25 applied to 23% more institutions in 2024/25 than those applying the previous year.

“Waiting for offers from other institutions” was the second-most cited reason for delaying a confirmation of enrolment in the INTO survey.

And it becomes increasingly clear that, even as students are applying to more institutions, they are also exploring options in a wider range of study destinations.

The survey report adds:

“Over half of students considered alternative destinations before choosing the UK or US, with over 40% of those considering alternatives beyond the traditional “Big 4”— the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. Europe, in particular, remained a strong contender across all regions. This trend highlights a rise in students exploring options closer to home to benefit from lower study costs and cultural proximity, reflecting the increasing competitiveness of global education markets.

Beyond Europe, student preferences also followed similar regional patterns identified in INTO’s 2024 Global Agent Survey. Students from East Asia were most likely to consider Singapore and Malaysia, while students from the Middle East and North Africa mainly looked to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, and students from the China, Hong Kong, and Macau region gravitated towards Hong Kong.”

Financial concerns loom large for students

The survey revealed the high degree of stress many international students feel because they don’t have a good sense of how much it will cost to study abroad. Close to half (44%) of surveyed students said that trying to understand tuition fees and cost of living is a “moderately” or “extremely” stressful aspect of their path towards enrolment.

INTO researchers advise:

“Universities can seek to address this challenge by reviewing the clarity in which total cost of studies (including all aspects of cost of living) are communicated, particularly when this might be complicated by how individuals can interpret course structure (e.g., credits) and time it’s likely to take to complete a degree.”

Uncertainty about work rights is another stress

Unpredictable and shifting immigration policies affect not only prospective international students, but also current students. In Canada, for example, many current international students have experienced significant stress in the past year due to not knowing if they were still eligible for work rights and permanent residency. In the US, the situation was stable in 2024, but it is unclear how President Trump may approach international students and legal migration in 2025. Any changes to work rights – e.g., Optional Practical Training (OPT) – would have a significant impact. The INTO survey found that:

• “Two-thirds of graduate students surveyed (66%) intend to secure employment opportunities afforded by OPT”
• One-third of undergraduate students (33%) also indicated a desire to use OPT after graduation.”

Reassurance and advice are crucial

In today’s unsettled global environment, immigration is a hot-button and polarising issue that profoundly affects international students hoping to study in one of the Big Four destinations. This is a year in which to prioritise communications with students and agents, check the institutional website to ensure it offers current and helpful information, and provide prospective students with useful information on visa processes, work rights, and costs of studying and living.

For additional information, please see:

• “Survey shows new visa rules are encouraging international students to apply to more destinations”
• “How to improve your communications with international students”
• “US: International education sector braces as a second Trump presidency takes shape”