Kenya Ranked Top in Africa in Receiving US Student Visas- Report
In 2023, there was a 58 percent increase in the issuance of United States visas to Kenyan students, according to a recent report from the United States Department of State.
The analysis of US visa trends from 2022 to 2023 disclosed that there was an increase in the number of Kenyan students obtaining F1 student visas, rising from 1,105 in 2022 to 1,746. This positioned Kenya as the second-highest growing country in terms of F1 visa recipients.
Experiencing a rise, Kenya surpassed countries like China, Myanmar, Uganda, Vietnam, Taiwan, and India in ranking.
In the standings, China secured the fourth position, experiencing a 39% growth in the issuance of F1 student visas in 2023.
Kyrgyzstan experienced substantial growth in F1 student visas, with the number of visas issued increasing from 708 in 2022 to 1,245 in 2023, marking a 75.9% rise.
In Africa, Kenya experienced the highest growth in the number of F1 visas for students, with Ghana following closely at 52.1 percent and Uganda at 29.9 percent.
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An F1 student visa is intended for individuals seeking the chance to pursue education at a college or university or to engage in English language studies at an institute within the United States.
In 2023, the US Department of State granted more than 446,200 student visas, marking the largest annual issuance of student visas since 2016.
“Over the last few years, global competition for international students has intensified. For example, in Canada, an estimated 515,000 student visas were issued from January to November 2023,” the report read in part.
“However, new or upcoming restrictive government policies in other destinations are likely to encourage more international students to choose the US.”
The document emphasizes the prospects available for students in Kenya, despite the recent changes in policies in other nations that restrict the influx of immigrants.
In contrast, the United States has seen continual expansion after the pandemic, drawing in many students because of its steady policy position.
Kenya Ranked Top in Africa in Receiving US Student Visas- Report