Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/263400 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 15184
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Recent immigration policies have created massive uncertainty for international students to obtain F-1 visas. Yet, before the COVID-19 pandemic, student visa applicants already faced an approximately 27 percent 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.
Subjects: 
Immigration policy
migration
international student
F-1 visa
student visa
China
JEL: 
I21
I23
F22
J15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
1.09 MB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.