Rédaction Africa Links 24 with News Desk
Published on 2024-04-03 09:34:59
The US Department of State’s Monthly Data shows that students from Ghana saw the third-largest increase in F-1 student visas issued between fiscal years 2022-2023 among countries with 1,000+ F-1 student visas. ApplyBoard has analyzed this data on US student visa approvals to emphasize the recent growth of countries like Ghana.
In 2023, the US issued approximately 446,000 F-1 student visas, marking an 8.5% increase from the previous year’s 411,000 visas. This surge represented the highest number of student visas issued in a single year since 2016. An F-1 student visa is intended for individuals seeking to study at a college or university or to pursue English language studies at an English language institute in the US.
Key insights from the data include:
– In 2023, Ghana emerged as the third fastest-growing student population for F-1 US student visas issued, with a remarkable 52% increase from 2022 to 2023 and over 5,000 F-1 study permits issued last year, positioning Ghana as the third fastest-growing student population for F-1 visas.
– The total number of Ghanaian students in the US experienced a significant 195% growth compared to 2021.
– Ghana also stood out as the second fastest-growing non-OPT student population in the US in 2023, with a total of 5,514 study permits issued, including F, M, and J student visas.
– The US witnessed a 34% increase in the number of Ghanaian students in the 2022/23 academic year compared to the previous year.
– Additionally, there was steady growth in African student populations coming to the US from countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Uganda, with Kenya leading as the fastest-growing African student population for F-1 visas.
– Uganda experienced a significant growth of nearly 30% in student visas issued in 2023, surpassing 1,000 student visas issued for the first time.
– Although the number of student visas issued to Nigerian students saw a slight decline year over year, Nigeria continued to dominate as the US’s largest African student market, with just under 7,500 student visas issued in 2023.
This data highlights the increasing interest and opportunities for international students, particularly from African countries like Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and more, to pursue higher education in the United States. It reflects a growing trend of diverse global student populations seeking educational experiences in the US.
