Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) reports a 72% drop in new international student enrolment in 2020

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has released their annual report for 2020, which discusses how the international student population in the United States has decreased amidst the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.  The report highlights data from the web-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and notes that the number of active records in SEVIS for F-1 and M-1 students decreased by 17.86% between 2019 and 2020.  New international student enrolment decreased by 72% between 2019 and 2020.  While August and September are typically the months that report the highest international student enrolment, a 91% decrease in new F-1 student enrolment was reported in August 2020, and a 72% decrease in new M-1 students was reported.  There was also a 12% decrease in students who applied for Employment Authorization to work during their OPT (Optional Practical Training) program. 

The full “SEVIS by the numbers” report can be viewed here.