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Best and Brightest? The Impact of Student Visa Restrictiveness on Who Attends College in the US

Author

Listed:
  • Mingyu Chen

    (Princeton University)

  • Jessica Howell

    (The College Board)

  • Jonathan Smith

    (Georgia State University)

Abstract

The F-1 student visa program brings more educated migrants to the US than any other immigration program, yet student visa applicants face an approximately 27 percent visa refusal rate that varies by time and region. Using data on the universe of SAT takers between 2004 and 2015 matched with college enrollment records, we examine how the anticipated F-1 visa restrictiveness influences US undergraduate enrollment outcomes of international students. Using an instrumental variables approach, we find that a higher anticipated F-1 student visa refusal rate decreases the number of international SAT takers, decreases the probability of sending SAT scores to US colleges, and decreases international student enrollment in the US. The decreases are larger among international students with higher measured academic achievement. We also document academic achievement of international students and show that over 40 percent of high-scoring international SAT takers do not pursue US college education.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingyu Chen & Jessica Howell & Jonathan Smith, 2020. "Best and Brightest? The Impact of Student Visa Restrictiveness on Who Attends College in the US," Working Papers 640, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:indrel:640
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Catalina Amuedo‐Dorantes & Kevin Shih & Huanan Xu, 2023. "The implications of optional practical training reforms on international student enrollments and quality," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(2), pages 253-281, April.
    3. Glitz, Albrecht & Rapoport, Hillel, 2024. "Introduction to the Labour Economics special issue on immigration economics," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human capital investment; migration; international student; F-1 studentvisa; immigration policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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