A report published by the U.S. Department of State has revealed that students from Kyrgyzstan saw the largest annual increase in the number of F-1 student visas issued from 2022 to 2023.
According to U.S. officials, 1,245 Kyrgyz students studied at U.S. universities in the 2022-23 academic year, That’s a material increase from the year before, when the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan issued only 708 student visas. The increase was 76%, the highest among all countries whose students study in the U.S.
In 2023 the U.S. issued about 446,000 F-1 student visas, up 8.5% from a year earlier. 2023 marked the highest number of visas issued to students from around the world since 2016. According to official information, the number of students from Kenya and Ghana also grew by 50% or more.
American company Apply Board, which helps foreign students enroll in U.S. universities, has conducted a study where it found that the largest growth in the number of foreign students was observed in academic departments for engineering technology, interdisciplinary studies, and computer and information sciences.
In 2023 the states of California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Illinois became the top destinations for international student enrollment.
In an interview with the Times of Central Asia, Apply Board staff revealed that Central Asia is the fastest growing market for U.S. student visas. Uzbekistan topped their list of applicant countries for 2022.
“A possible driver of Kyrgyzstan’s accelerating development is the country’s demographics. In 2023, more than half of its population was under 30 years old. In addition, its citizens are becoming more urbanized, driving demand for education. And as the country’s key industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and mining modernize, potential students are attracted to international programs that can help them stand out in these fields,” Apply Board representatives said.
