Recently, the Institute of International Education (IIE) released the latest "2020 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange." The report shows that the number of international students in the U.S. has exceeded 1 million for the fifth consecutive year. In the 2019/2020 academic year, there were 1,075,496 international students pursuing higher education in the U.S., a decrease of 1.8% compared to the 2018/2019 academic year. This marks the first decline in the number of international students in the U.S. in 13 years, since the 2006/2007 academic year.
Although overall study abroad data has declined, China remains the largest source of international students for the U.S., maintaining a growth trend for over a decade. In the 2019/2020 academic year, China topped the list of source countries with 372,532 students. Among the top six countries sending students to the U.S., China was the only one to see a year-on-year increase, rising by 0.8% compared to the 2018/2019 academic year. Furthermore, Chinese students account for a significant 34.6% of the total international student population, demonstrating that Chinese students still favor the United States.
However, official U.S. data shows a sharp decline in the number of visas issued to students from mainland China. According to data released by the U.S. Department of State, from April to the end of September 2020, applicants from mainland China received only 808 F-1 student visas, compared to 90,410 in the same period last year, a year-on-year decrease of over 99%.
At the same time, the number of J-1 visas for Chinese visiting scholars has also dropped sharply. From April to the end of September 2020, applicants from mainland China received only 154 J-1 visas, compared to 26,895 in the same period last year, which is less than 0.6% of the previous year's figure.
A reduction in the number of visas means that studying in the U.S. may become increasingly difficult. In addition, many U.S. universities have seen record-low acceptance rates. For example, Harvard University's Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2025 dropped from 13.9% last year to 7.4%, yet the total number of applicants reached an all-time high, meaning Harvard has entered its most competitive admission cycle in history. Yale University broke its lowest record since 2008 with an acceptance rate of 10.5%, and the University of Pennsylvania hit a ten-year low with an acceptance rate falling to 15%.
In fact, whether in terms of acceptance rates, major selection, or internships and employment, international students face challenges at every step. Perhaps the U.S. study abroad policy in the Biden era will be friendlier and studying in the U.S. will become more popular, but competition will also become more intense. Therefore, comprehensive planning is imminent.
Today, to overcome these study abroad dilemmas, an increasing number of families are choosing to plan their status in advance before their children begin their studies. By obtaining a Green Card, they provide a green channel for their children to enter world-renowned universities, allowing for greater freedom in choosing schools and majors, eliminating concerns about status for work and life after graduation, and creating more opportunities for the future.
With a U.S. Green Card, students enjoy access to 90%-95% of admission spots reserved for domestic students. In terms of costs, Green Card holders can enjoy the same tuition rates as domestic students, which is only one-third of the cost for international students. It can be said that the difference between international students and Green Card students is not only reflected in tuition costs, scholarship applications, and student loans, but also plays a decisive role in future employment opportunities and admission rates to top universities. Students themselves can also enjoy the "invisible benefits" brought by Green Card status.
There are a thousand reasons to head west for education, but opportunities only go to those who are fully prepared. Whether for studying in the U.S. or for Chinese families immigrating to the U.S. for their children's education, it is necessary to plan ahead to obtain U.S. permanent residency to be prepared for any changes.
WorldWay Group reminds everyone: If you have plans to send your children to the U.S. for high-quality education or to immigrate to the U.S. as a family, please take action as soon as possible. One of the most popular mainstream immigration methods for investors is the U.S. EB-5 investment immigration program.
Currently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to receive and process immigration applications as usual. For investors with a rigid demand for U.S. immigration, they should lock in high-quality projects early based on their own circumstances. "Prepare early, apply early, queue early, and benefit early!"
The Yellowstone Club Phase II, as one of the few EB-5 projects on the market that complies with the new regulations for the $900,000 low-investment threshold, is highly favored by investors. This project combines many outstanding advantages, such as having already received dual approval from the USCIS, having already exceeded employment requirements, offering repayment secured by assets worth five times the investment, and providing transparent fund supervision, which significantly protects the interests of investors.
2020 is the year of health planning; health planning starts with status. Good projects do not wait, so book as soon as possible. For project details, please contact: Mainland China: 400-138-2929; Hong Kong, China: (852) 2802 8798.
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