USA — Visa & Study Updates

US “Duration of Status” Rule for F-1 Students Blocked by Federal Court

A DHS rule replacing open-ended F-1 admission with a fixed four-year period was due to start on 15 September 2026. A federal court blocked it the day before. Duration of status stays in place for now.

USA F-1 Student Visa Refusal Rate Hits 35% in 2025 — a Decade High

US State Department data shows 35% of F-1 student visa applications were refused in 2025, up from 31% in 2024. Refusals are heavily concentrated by region: 9% in Europe, 41% in Asia, 64% in Africa.

F-1 Visa Interview Wait Times by US Consulate in 2026

Interview wait times at US consulates for F-1 student visas vary from days to over 300 days depending on your location. Here are the current figures and how to plan around them.

What Changed for US Student Visas in 2025–2026: A Complete Breakdown

From expanded administrative processing to new SEVIS requirements, here is a complete breakdown of every significant change affecting F-1 student visa applicants in 2025 and 2026.