F-1 Visa Refusal Rates Rise, Major D/S Changes: How Can Children Secure Their Stay in the US?

Recently, a set of data regarding F-1 student visas has drawn attention.

Worldway Immigration has learned that the latest report released by Shorelight, based on US Department of State data, shows that the global F-1 student visa refusal rate reached 35% in 2025, higher than 31% in 2024, hitting a nearly ten-year high. In 2015, this proportion was only 23%.

Meanwhile, data from the US Department of State also shows that the number of F-1 visas issued in 2025 fell by 33.4% year-on-year.

One is the rising refusal rate, and the other is the significant decrease in the actual number of visas issued.

For families planning to study in the US, the signal behind this has become increasingly clear:

The uncertainty of studying in the US is extending from “whether one can get admitted” to “whether one can enter smoothly, complete studies stably, and stay after graduation.”

F-1 is essentially a non-immigrant visa.

Applicants not only need to obtain school admission, prepare Form I-20 and proof of funds, but also need to prove to the visa officer that they meet the F-1 application requirements, including a genuine study purpose and a plan to visit the US that complies with non-immigrant status requirements.

Especially under the INA 214(b) framework, if applicants cannot sufficiently prove they meet the corresponding non-immigrant visa conditions, they may be refused. Once refused, it is not a simple matter of “applying again” to resolve.

The US Department of State clearly states that one can reapply after a 214(b) refusal, but when reapplying, one should be able to provide new relevant information or prove that their circumstances have changed significantly since the last application. If nothing has changed, simply refiling forms, paying fees, and going for another interview will likely just repeat the previous outcome.

Schools can assist with handling I-20s, deferring enrollment, and other matters, but there are limits to the help they can provide regarding specific reasons for refusal and complex visa issues.

In addition, the scope of student visa screening is expanding.

Currently, the US Department of State has required F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visa applicants to undergo online information and social media screening, and requires relevant applicants to set their social media accounts to “public” or “open” for review.

In other words, applying for a US student visa now involves a more multi-dimensional review—from application materials and interview answers to personal online information—and the difficulty and uncertainty of F-1 visa applications are further increasing.

If the rising F-1 refusal rate affects “whether one can enter the US,” then another upcoming policy change affects how long students can stay after entering the US.

The US Department of Homeland Security has published a final rule. Starting September 15, 2026, the long-standing “Duration of Status (D/S)” system for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and others will transition to a fixed-period admission system. (For details, click to read Worldway's previous report: Major New Rule Implemented! US Ends D/S Duration of Status System)

In the past, the “D/S” marked on the I-94 of F-1 international students upon entry meant “as long as you are studying, you can stay legally indefinitely.”

After the new rule takes effect, newly entering or re-entering F-1 students will receive a clear I-94 “Admit Until Date,” typically tied to the I-20 program duration, in principle not exceeding 4 years at most. Meanwhile, under the new system, the grace period for F-1 students to depart after completing their program will also be shortened from the current 60 days to 30 days.

This means that the previously relatively flexible “duration of status” is turning into more concrete “time management.”

In fact, for many Chinese families, F-1 is only the first stop in the US status journey.

After children enter US universities, they often still have to go through:

F-1 Enrollment → CPT/OPT Internship & Employment → H-1B and other work statuses → Employment-Based Green Card.

F-1 requires continuous maintenance of student status, OPT has time and employment requirements, and if they wish to continue working in the US after graduation, many students must enter the work visa system.

Therefore, the question truly worth considering for families today is no longer just: “Can my child go to a US university?”

But rather: “What status will my child rely on to study, intern, and work in the US over the next 5 or 10 years?”

This is also why more and more families with long-term US plans are starting to plan studying abroad and immigration status together.

The biggest difference between F-1 and a Green Card is not just two different documents, but two different status logics.

F-1 is a temporary non-immigrant status for the purpose of study, requiring compliance with corresponding study, employment, and stay regulations.

Once permanent resident status in the US is obtained, studying, living, and working in the US no longer depend on F-1 student status.

There is no need to repeatedly apply for F-1 visas or face non-immigrant intent reviews under 214(b); when entering the internship and employment phase, there is no need to base work authorization primarily on OPT; and after graduation, there is no need to bet the ability to stay in the US entirely on temporary work statuses like H-1B.

For children who hope to develop in the US long-term, what a Green Card truly adds is the room for choice in education, employment, and long-term development.

For families who have clearly decided they want their children to develop in the US long-term, EB-5 provides an employment-based immigration pathway directly leading to US permanent resident status.

Currently, several advantages of the new EB-5 law are drawing more attention from study-abroad families:

• No Retrogression Dividend: The reserved visa channels are currently still in a “no backlog” golden window.

• Concurrent Filing Advantage: International students already in the US with legal entry status can concurrently file Form I-526E and Form I-485, quickly obtaining legal status and completely throwing off the various shackles of F-1 status.

• One Person Invests, Whole Family Gets Green Cards: Synchronize children's education planning with family immigration status planning.

Please note that on January 1, 2027, the minimum investment amount will be raised from $800,000 to $900,000–$950,000 or even higher. The “grandfathering clause” in the new EB-5 law will reach a critical time node on September 30, 2026.

As an Asian Brand 500 company with over 20 years of focus on immigration, Worldway Group started in Hong Kong in 1998, has been rooted in Hong Kong for over 20 years, and has professional companies in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. Over the years, Worldway has continuously monitored changes in US immigration policies, providing professional services to families with needs for US study, employment, and long-term status planning.