Lori Meadows
The number of international students who overstay their visas in the US has been a growing concern in recent years. While the exact number of student visa overstays is unknown, it is believed that visa overstays, in general, contribute significantly to unauthorized immigration. In 2016, an estimated 320,000 people overstayed their visas, surpassing the number of unauthorized border crossings. This trend has been consistent, and the number of visa overstays has even increased relative to border crossings in recent years. Meanwhile, Mexican immigrants, who once comprised the largest group of unauthorized immigrants, have seen their numbers decline since 2007, with approximately 4 million unauthorized Mexican immigrants in the US as of 2022. This raises the question of whether international students who overstay their visas now outnumber Mexican unauthorized immigrants in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa overstays vs border crossings | Since 2007, the undocumented immigrant population has grown more through visa overstays than unauthorized border crossings. |
| Visa overstays in 2016 | 320,000 people overstayed their visas. |
| Border crossings in 2016 | 190,000 people entered illegally. |
| Visa overstays in 2004 | 34% of illegal entries into the U.S. |
| Visa overstays in 2014 | 66% of new entries. |
| International students in 2019-20 | 411,131 students entered the US with F-1 visas. |
| International students in 2020 | 220,525 students came to the US to study. |
| International students in 2019 | 728,739 students arrived. |
| International students in 2022 | 701,945 people came to the US as students. |
| International students in 2015 | 989,795 people came to attend school. |
| International students from Asia in 2022 | 367,654 people. |
| Mexican-origin diaspora in the US | 39.4 million people. |
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What You'll Learn
- Visa overstays are a growing share of illegal immigration to the US
- International students contribute significantly to the US economy
- Work is the most common reason for immigration to the US
- Changing US policies and the pandemic have reduced international students
- Trump's administration made it harder for international students to stay in the US
Visa overstays are a growing share of illegal immigration to the US
While the number of international students entering the US has decreased in recent years, visa overstays are a significant contributor to the nation's illegal immigration problem. In 2022, the total overstay rate was 3.64%, more than double the rate of previous years. This equates to approximately 98,000 visitors who entered under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) overstaying their welcome.
A study by the Center for Migration Studies estimates that in 2016, 320,000 people overstayed their visas, while only 190,000 entered the country illegally. This trend has been observed since 2007, when 250,000 people overstayed their visas compared to 140,000 who crossed the border illegally. The prevalence of different modes of illegal immigration has been changing over the last two decades. In 2000, 400,000 people entered the country illegally, while only 225,000 overstayed their visas.
A variety of factors contribute to the decline in international student enrollment in the US, including visa difficulties, the US social and political climate, competition from other countries' institutions, and the costs of attending US colleges and universities. The Trump administration's focus on reducing immigration across all streams also made it harder for international students to obtain or extend their visas. In contrast, the Biden administration has promised to expand the number of highly skilled visas and speed up visa application processing.
While Mexican unauthorized immigrants previously constituted a majority of those living illegally in the US, their numbers have declined since 2007. As of 2017, 4.9 million unauthorized immigrants in the US were born in Mexico, while 5.5 million originated from other countries. This shift is attributed to a significant drop in new arrivals from Mexico, coupled with an increase in unauthorized immigrants from other nations, particularly Central America and Asia.
The dynamic nature of migration patterns has resulted in a constantly changing and churning unauthorized immigrant population in the US. While border patrol apprehensions at the US-Mexico border are on the rise, the majority of those attempting to enter illegally are stopped. However, a growing share of the unauthorized immigrant population enters the country legally but overstays their visas. These individuals are subject to civil penalties, including deportation and restrictions on future US visa applications.
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International students contribute significantly to the US economy
According to a study by the Center for Migration Studies, in 2016, 320,000 people overstayed their visas, while 190,000 entered the US illegally. This trend has been observed since 2007, and the numbers have continued to grow. While the focus of this issue is often on Mexican immigrants, international students also contribute significantly to the US economy, and their numbers are substantial.
International students have become a significant source of revenue for the US economy, with their contributions extending beyond the education sector. In the 2023-2024 academic year, international students contributed approximately $43.8 billion to the US economy, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators. This is a notable increase from the previous year's contribution of $41 billion. The economic impact of international students is felt across various sectors, including education, real estate, restaurants, and other businesses.
The presence of international students also has a positive impact on job creation. For every three international students, one US job is created or supported. In the 2023-2024 academic year, international students supported more than 378,000 jobs in the US. This is a significant increase from the 416,000 jobs supported in the 2019-2020 academic year, as per NAFSA estimates.
The economic contributions of international students are particularly notable in states with high concentrations of universities, such as Texas, Massachusetts, and California. During the last academic year, international students in Texas contributed $2.5 billion to the local economy, while those in Massachusetts contributed an estimated $3.9 billion. California, the state with the most international students, saw a contribution of $6.4 billion.
International students also bring a diverse range of skills and knowledge to the US. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report, more than half (56%) of international students pursued STEM fields of study, with a significant number studying math, computer science, and engineering. This talent pool contributes to the American research enterprise and drives innovation and entrepreneurship.
In conclusion, international students make significant contributions to the US economy, both directly and indirectly. Their presence creates jobs, drives innovation, and supports various sectors of the economy. The US benefits not only from their economic contributions but also from the diverse knowledge and skills they bring to the country.
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Work is the most common reason for immigration to the US
According to a 2022 report, work is the most common reason for immigration to the US, accounting for 41% of new immigrant arrivals that year. This amounts to 1.1 million people out of 2.6 million authorized immigrants who entered the US in 2022. The second most common reason for immigration to the US is school, with 701,945 people arriving as students in 2022. This is a rebound from the decline seen during the pandemic, though the number of students entering the US has not surpassed its peak in 2015, when nearly 1 million people came to attend school.
The impact of immigration on the US labour force and wages is a key issue in US immigration policy debates. Economists have found that immigrants slightly raise the average wages of US-born workers, with positive wage gains of between 0.1 and 0.6%. While the economic literature is divided on whether immigration reduces wages for specific groups, some estimates suggest that the influx of immigrant workers reduced the wages of low-skilled workers and college graduates. However, immigrants and US-born workers generally do not compete for the same jobs, with immigrants complementing the work of US employees and increasing productivity. For example, low-skilled immigrant labourers allow US-born farmers, contractors, and craftsmen to expand production or build more homes, thereby increasing employment and income for US citizens.
Many immigrants, whether undocumented or living legally in the US, hold jobs deemed essential by the federal government. In 2017, an estimated 2.7 million immigrants worked in the healthcare sector, accounting for nearly 15% of all healthcare workers. Additionally, an estimated 7.6 million undocumented immigrants worked in the US as of 2017, with about 750,000 working in food production, processing, retail, and distribution, considered essential jobs during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Americans generally agree that immigrants, regardless of status, mostly fill jobs that US citizens do not want. A Pew Research Center survey found that about three-quarters of adults (77%) hold this view, with Hispanics being the most likely to agree (88%). A majority of Americans also believe that legal immigrants currently in the country primarily fill jobs that citizens do not want. This perspective is shared across various groups, with similar shares of white and black adults expressing this opinion (62% each).
While the focus of this discussion is on work as the primary reason for immigration to the US, it is worth noting that the visa overstay issue mentioned earlier can also be relevant to the overall immigration landscape. A study by the Center for Migration Studies estimates that in 2016, 320,000 people overstayed their visas, compared to 190,000 who entered illegally. This trend of visa overstays outnumbering illegal crossings has been observed since 2007, and it is an aspect that should be considered in the broader context of US immigration.
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Changing US policies and the pandemic have reduced international students
The number of international students in the United States has decreased due to changing US policies and the pandemic. In the 2019-20 school year, there were fewer international students than the year before, marking a decade-long trend reversal. This decline was influenced by the Trump administration's policies, which made it more challenging for international students to obtain or maintain their visas. For instance, the administration halted Harvard University's ability to enroll new international students and ordered existing ones to transfer or risk losing their legal status. The administration's actions and social and political climate concerns have been significant factors in the decline.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also played a role in aggravating the situation, causing travel and visa difficulties for prospective international students. The combination of policy changes and the pandemic has led to a decrease in international student enrollment, impacting the US economy and job market. International students contributed an estimated $39 billion to the US economy and supported 416,000 jobs in 2022.
While the number of international students has decreased, student immigration has shown signs of recovery from the pandemic lows. In 2022, 701,945 people entered the US as students, a slight increase from 220,525 in 2020. However, the numbers have not returned to their peak in 2015, when nearly 1 million international students arrived in the country. The Biden administration has promised to expand highly skilled visas and expedite visa and citizenship application processing, which may help attract more international students.
The US State Department's decision to resume student visa processing in June 2025 is a positive step. However, the enhanced screening measures, including examining applicants' social media accounts, may impact enrollment for the upcoming academic year. The suspension of visa interviews during the peak processing period of May to August could deter prospective international students, especially those from banned countries like Muslim-majority nations.
In conclusion, changing US policies and the pandemic have contributed to a decline in international students in the United States. The Trump administration's actions and the pandemic-related challenges have deterred international students. While there are signs of recovery, the US faces competition from other countries, and the recent visa processing enhancements may impact enrollment. The Biden administration's promises to ease visa processes could help make the US more attractive to international students again.
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Trump's administration made it harder for international students to stay in the US
While it is unclear whether international students who overstay their visas outnumber Mexican immigrants, the Trump administration has made it harder for international students to stay in the US.
During his first term, Trump imposed restrictive immigration policies that affected student visas and work opportunities, particularly the H-1B visa. The denial rate for H-1B visas reached its peak during Trump's presidency at 24%, compared to 2% in 2022.
In 2025, Trump signed an executive order barring international students from Harvard University from entering the country, a move that Harvard called "illegal." This was the first time Trump had attempted to directly use the power of the presidency to block students with valid visas from entering the US. The American Immigration Council noted that the law invoked by Trump to block Harvard students is typically used to target people from foreign countries with ties to human rights abuses or corruption.
In addition to targeting Harvard students, Trump imposed restrictions on travel from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, preventing people from these countries from obtaining permanent residency, tourist visas, or student visas.
The Trump administration's policies have also focused on ending Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to work for 12 months in their field of study, typically after graduating. Joseph Edlow, nominated to be the director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), pledged to end OPT and STEM OPT, which enables students to gain practical experience by working an additional 24 months in a STEM field.
The Trump administration's actions have been criticized for harassing international students and putting their future at risk. The decline in international students in the US during the 2019-2020 school year was attributed in part to changing US policies and the social and political climate, which have made it more difficult for international students to enter or remain in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
No. As of 2022, there are about 4 million unauthorized Mexican immigrants in the US, the largest number of any origin country. While there are no exact figures on the number of international students who overstay their visas, a 2016 study by the Center for Migration Studies estimates that 320,000 people overstayed their visas that year.
The Mexican unauthorized immigrant population in the US has been declining since its peak of almost 7 million in 2007, when Mexicans accounted for 57% of all unauthorized immigrants. In 2022, the Mexican-born population in the US dropped further, and Mexico accounted for 23% of the immigrant population.
Visa overstays are making up a larger share of immigrants coming to the US illegally every year. In 2004, overstays accounted for 34% of illegal entries, while in 2014, they made up 66%. The number of border crossings has also declined in recent years.
