NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 18 – The number of Kenyans granted student visas to the United States fell by 13.4 percent in the nine months to August, marking the first decline since the COVID-19 pandemic as Washington tightens immigration enforcement and visa screening.
A total of 3,808 Kenyans received F-1 student visas during the period, down from 4,396 a year earlier, according to data from the International Trade Administration, a US government agency.
The drop ends a post-pandemic rebound in Kenyan student travel to the United States. During the height of global travel restrictions in 2020, the number of Kenyan F-1 visas fell to 1,369 before steadily recovering in subsequent years.
The latest decline coincides with policy shifts under President Donald Trump’s administration that have made student visas harder to obtain. Research cited in the data points to longer processing times and higher denial rates as key factors behind the fall in first-time international student approvals.
The slowdown mirrors a broader trend across US campuses. Enrollment of new international students at American universities fell by 17 percent during the autumn intake between August and December, according to figures reported by the BBC.
Foreign students account for about six percent of total enrollment in US higher education and contributed an estimated $55 billion (Sh7 trillion) to the US economy in 2024, according to Commerce Department data.
In May, the Trump administration ordered US embassies abroad to pause scheduling new visa interview appointments for students and exchange visitors, according to an internal State Department cable cited by international media. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the pause would allow the department to expand screening of applicants’ social media accounts.
Since interviews resumed in June, consular officers have applied more rigorous background checks and financial assessments, particularly for applicants from countries perceived to carry higher overstay risks. This has resulted in closer scrutiny of funding sources, post-study intentions and applicants’ ties to their home countries.
Despite the decline in Kenya, Africa remains a key growth market for US higher education. A total of 40,366 F-1 visas were issued across the continent during the same period, with Nigeria leading at 8,462 approvals, followed by Ghana (5,909) and South Africa (4,015). Kenya ranked fourth.
Globally, international student enrollment in the United States remains near record levels. During the 2023–2024 academic year, total enrollment rose to an all-time high of 1.13 million students, a 6.6 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education and the US State Department.
