The Cost of Coming to America
Last night our feeds and emails were flooded with the news that the current U.S. administration issued an Executive Action restricting the entry of citizens from a designated list of countries citing national security concerns. The last go-round, student visas were excluded from the travel ban. This time is different. Student visa categories, F – academic students, J – exchange visitors, and M – vocational students, are included in the travel ban, among other visa categories. Citing state-sponsored or historical presence of terrorism, lack of competent or cooperative central authority to issue passports, and overstay rates, a sweeping ban on travel for both immigrants and nonimmigrants will be in effect on June 9.
The United States itself has a historical presence of terrorism, where mass shootings in schools and violence in homes and cities as a result of crime, misogyny, bigotry, racism, and other systemic issues leaves us scared but increasingly numb. These have overwhelmingly been perpetrated by U.S. citizens. I’ve often said, in providing perspective on Department of State country advisory levels with parents and students studying abroad, that if the DoS evaluated the United States, we would be a Level 4 – Do Not Travel. But I digress…
For those who do not know how much effort and courage it takes for an international student to study in the United States, here is some perspective. The process isn’t widely known outside of higher education (though easily searchable - dO yOuR ReSEarCh), and even within higher education there is a lack of knowledge.
It begins with a dream. The United States promises the American Dream, one that will make them and their parents proud. The American Dream has been sold not only to us Americans, but across the world as hope for freedom, independence, growth, and success. I dare say it is fading from memory, much like a dream you can’t remember upon waking. For students around the world, though, it remains potent. International students WANT to come to the United States.
Applying to Universities in the United States
Most international students will apply to universities in the United States sight unseen. While domestic students have the opportunity for campus visit days and memories of attending football games, most international students will apply having never set foot on campus. Maybe they saw a brochure at a university fair and really connected with the recruiter. Maybe a university is the perfect fit for what they want to study. Maybe they found some YouTube videos from a university that really inspired them. Maybe an educational agent, who may or may not be incentivized to promote specific institutions, convinced them. However they find us, it is a profound leap of faith.
The application process is costly in itself. Each university has an application fee and many do not issue fee waivers for international students, even when financial hardship is demonstrated. The argument is that if they don’t have $75 US to submit an application, how can they afford everything else? Most students must submit English proficiency scores (some over $200 US). Some tests are online (if you have a strong internet connection), but if not, they must travel to a testing location which are often only in larger cities. Students submit SAT or ACT scores, which carry additional costs. Educational agents may charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to a family for “support” that universities can provide directly. Some high schools do not have the capacity to send official transcripts to universities or only issue one, on paper, upon completion of high school. The barriers to simply accessing applications and submitting the required documents are almost insurmountably high for some students. Yet they persist.
Financial and Visa Documentation
Once admitted to one or more U.S. universities, the journey has just begun. International students must submit detailed financial documents to prove they can pay for an entire academic year, before they can even begin the visa process. They must show verifiable evidence of funding for tuition, international fees, insurance, housing, meals, transportation, books, and miscellaneous living expenses. At some universities this can be a huge amount of money, anywhere from $30,000 - $100,000 US. This evidence is required to issue an official Form I-20 (for F-1 students) or a DS-2019 (for J-1 students), the documents required for the visa application process and for entry into the U.S. Non-U.S. citizen students are not eligible to complete the FAFSA and not every university has scholarships. Note: U.S. citizens are not required to demonstrate that they can afford college. The same cannot be said for their international classmates.
Paying the SEVIS Fee and Applying for a Visa
Once the I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, a student must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, which is:
$350 for F-1 and M-1 visa applicants
$220 for J-1 visa applicants
Let’s not forget that universities are simultaneously charging deposits to save their place, housing application fees, orientation fees, and other pre-enrollment fees that add up into the hundreds of dollars, all before securing a visa. If a visa is denied, these are often sunk costs.
After having paid the SEVIS fee, a student can then book a visa appointment at a U.S. Embassy or consulate. They often endure long wait times, travel to another city, or even travel to another country due to local backlogs or lack of a U.S. Embassy in their home country. Just yesterday I met with two Iranian students who stayed in Karachi for over a month after their applications came out of administrative processing – a common process for students from countries flagged for heightened scrutiny under U.S. law or policy that can delay academic progress for months or even years. Imagine waiting for a month in another country just to see if your passport was going to be returned to you…
The non-refundable fee to book a visa appointment is $185 US. Some countries have reciprocity fees that can add hundreds more.
As part of the visa application process, most international students are also required to complete biometrics collection, typically through a Visa Application Center or as part of their consular appointment. This includes:
Fingerprinting
Digital photograph
Passport and document verification
In some countries, biometrics are collected prior to the consular interview at a separate facility, often requiring a second appointment and sometimes travel to a different city. In others, it’s integrated into the same day at the consulate. These biometrics are stored and used as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s security vetting systems.
For students from certain countries, this step can introduce additional delays or security checks, especially under increased administrative scrutiny or during times of heightened political tension. Students are often advised to schedule their biometrics appointment as early as possible, as visa issuance cannot proceed until this step is completed.
Visa Interview
After all fees have been paid and the student has secured a visa appointment (as long as appointments aren’t paused), the student travels to the U.S. Embassy or consulate for the visa interview. The visa interview is stressful and high-stakes. A consular officer will ask about the student’s academic plans, finances, and post-graduation intentions. Social media vetting has also already occurred, a practice formalized in 2019 under DS-160 and DS-260 form revisions, though we are now expecting increased scrutiny for “antisemitic” or “Anti-American” sentiments. These terms lack clear legal definitions and could be applied broadly or indiscriminately.
A student must also demonstrate “nonimmigrant intent,” which means that if there is any indication that a student wants to stay in the United States after they graduate, their visa will be denied. One wrong answer, or simply a bad day, can result in denial. No refunds. No appeals. And the dream is, at least temporarily, on hold. If the student is successful in getting a visa, they have been through more vetting and screening than a U.S. citizen who purchases a firearm.
Arrival in the United States
Hooray! The student got a visa. Now they book a ticket, usually more than $1,000 US, to travel to a new city in a new country. Upon arrival, they go through Customs and Border Patrol, where they may again be questioned about their plans. CBP agents have great discretion and authority to question anyone at the port of entry. One wrong answer can send the student back home immediately. I remember a time when a student arrived at O’Hare and was questioned about whether they had family members in the United States. He had recently found out that he had a brother in the United States and expressed his excitement to meet him. He was immediately deported because the CBP agent assumed he would overstay his student visa. He is subject to a 10-year ban under INA Section 212(a)(7)(A), simply because he was excited to meet a sibling he had only recently discovered. Cruelty.
If they get through Customs and Border Patrol easily (and most do, as they have already been screened), they find their way to their new home. For some it could be a quick trip in an Uber or public transportation, a bus provided by the university, or they could be on their own where public transportation is not readily available. Add an additional Uber ride or hotel stay to the tab.
Arrival on Campus
Adjusting to life on campus is difficult for any new student. Americans get homesick, but they can more easily travel home or may have friends from their hometowns as support systems. International offices provide support to new international students through orientation and cultural adjustment, checking in, and providing ways to get involved on campus and in the town; however, we must remember how difficult it is for anyone to be thousands of miles away from family and support systems, trusting that our institutions will welcome and support them. International students teach us empathy in our interactions on campus. Remember how far they have come, how much they have sacrificed, and how determined they must be to have come all this way. We are all better for being able to include these students in our communities.
Remember
In times like these, when political winds shift and visas become bargaining chips in geopolitical theater, we must remember the human effort behind every application, every I-20, every visa, every arrival. The cost of coming to the U.S. isn’t only financial, it is emotional, physical, and deeply personal.
We owe it to our students, and to ourselves, to recognize that studying in the U.S. is not a given. It is a hard-won achievement, and one that becomes harder with every new ban, fee hike, or policy change cloaked in “national security.” Higher education is not immune to politics. It never was. And for our international students, it never will be.
To anyone who is celebrating the travel ban, out of fear or political alignment, practice empathy. Remember that international students are some of the most vetted and screened visa recipients into the United States, regardless of country of origin. International students chose the United States, for our strength, for our opportunities, and for our culture (at no cost to us!). We should all live up to the American Dream that we so proudly display, not only by welcoming those who arrive but by protecting the very ideals we claim to represent. Be kind.