Making J-1s a Priority: The Importance of J-1 Visa Appointment Availability to the U.S. in Summer 2026

We’re less than three months out from the start of the summer season for U.S. businesses and communities, and one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the U.S. has a J-1 visa appointment availability problem. 

Over the past month, U.S. Embassies in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Thailand, and Turkey, all key BridgeUSA exchange program sending countries, announced they will reduce J-1 visa interview capacity by anywhere from 50-90%, with more countries potentially following suit.  

If this trend continues, summer 2026 could see a sharp decline in Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor participants, triggering consequences that extend far beyond the programs themselves. Seasonal businesses and tourist destinations across the U.S. could face serious staffing shortages, making it harder to operate and serve customers without the support these participants provide alongside American workers. Local economies stand to lose more than $45 million in annual spending generated by Summer Work Travel participants. And these impacts may only be the beginning, with broader and less predictable consequences already on the horizon. 

As the U.S. prepares for the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th birthday celebration this year, ensuring participants secure the J-1 visa interview appointments they need to support U.S. communities and economies this summer is vital, and many in Congress agree.  

Last week, fifteen members of Congress joined Representatives Jeff Van Drew (R, NJ-2) and Bill Keating (D, MA-9) in sending a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to ensure that sufficient consular resources are in place worldwide for the timely visa processing of J-1 exchange visitors in 2026.  

We at the Alliance join Congress in calling on the U.S. Department of State to ensure J-1 visas are prioritized this year and respectfully recommend the following activities: 

• We ask that Consular Affairs instruct Embassies to place priority emphasis on J-1 visa issuance. A Department of State cable was issued to Embassies in late 2025 instructing them to fully prioritize B1/B2 tourist visas for the World Cup, while deemphasizing the issuance of J-1 visas. We support the issuance of World Cup visas to all eligible tourists and ask that Consular Affairs reprioritize the issuance of J-1 visas for eligible participants for this summer and beyond given how critical they are to U.S. seasonal communities, camps, schools, families, and economies.  

• We ask that Consular Affairs provide more staff support for J-1 visa issuance, specifically for back-end online presence screening of J-1 visa applicants. We ask that the Department of State provide additional staff time and resources to assist Embassies with the back-end vetting of J-1 applicants’ online presence. This could be additional staff sent to Embassies and/or a central staffing mechanism that enables additional staff not at post to perform online vetting research while Consular officers are concurrently performing interviews at post. 

It is important to note that many Embassies around the world have been responsive to the needs of the program by extending the number of months for J-1 visa interviews. While appreciated and necessary, this alone is not sufficient to provide the needed number of visa interviews to give U.S. businesses the necessary seasonal boost they expect. We’re grateful to our members, partners, and champions on the Hill for continuing to advocate for a multiprong approach to address this issue and ensure need is met. 

If you or your organization has information you’d like to share regarding J-1 visa appointment trends you’re seeing, please contact info@alliance-exchange.org.

Recently released State Department data shows concerning dip in BridgeUSA participation in 2025

BridgeUSA exchange program participant data for 2025 was just released, and the numbers tell a concerning story.  

BridgeUSA participant numbers dipped to 275,000, an 8.8% decrease from 2024, and the first decline in participation in more than five years. This is a departure from recent participation trends, as 2021-2024 saw a steady increase and almost complete rebound from the 2020 plummet in program participation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The dip in 2025 participation signals that BridgeUSA programs are facing a variety of intersecting challenges. While demand for the programs – from both participants and hosts – is holding strong, exchange organizations have to contend with headwinds from several directions to convert that demand into participation.   

Program Participation Decreases Nearly Across the Board 

Nearly every major program category experienced a decline in 2025. The across-the-board declines suggest that participation barriers are not isolated to a single program type but are impacting the BridgeUSA portfolio more broadly. 

• Research Scholar, Teacher, and Au Pair saw some of the steepest decreases:  

• Research Scholar saw a nearly 27% decrease to 17,622 (down from 24,067 in 2024). 

• Teacher saw a 22% decrease to 5,276 (down from 6,780 in 2024). 

• Au Pair declined 13.2%, to 16,840 (down from 19,408 in 2024).  

• Camp Counselor was the only category to see even a slight increase, up to 32,470 (from 32,079 in 2024). 

• SWT saw a 2.5% decrease to 104,609 (down from 107,228 in 2024). 

• Intern saw a 9.8% decrease to 16,877 (down from 18,719 in 2024). 

• Trainee saw 12.3% decrease to 8,605 (down from 9,821 in 2024). 

• Secondary Student (High School) saw a 6.3% decrease to 17,863 (down from 19,077 in 2024). 

Impact on Top Sending Countries 

Many countries that have historically sent strong numbers of participants saw decreases from 2024 to 2025, such as: 

• Germany: -11.42% 

• Turkey: -15.5% 

• Colombia: -25.7% 

• Mexico: -7.67% 

• China: -9.34% 

Top Receiving U.S. States Also Impacted

The declines are felt domestically as well. Most U.S. states saw a reduction in their number of exchange participants, including those that typically host the largest numbers of participants, including: 

• New York: -5.51% 

• Pennsylvania: -6.54% 

• Florida: -7.17% 

• Massachusetts: -8.41% 

• California: -11.75% 

These decreases across the country could affect local economies and communities that rely on the cultural, educational, and economic contributions of BridgeUSA participants. 

What’s Driving the Decline? 

Several factors likely contributed to this drop in participation: 

• New social media vetting procedures of J-1 visa applicants, implemented in June of 2025, are significantly increasing the time it takes to adjudicate a visa for any given applicant. This additional time is squeezing consular resources and creating fewer available visa interview slots. 

• Immigration enforcement concerns may be discouraging prospective participants from committing to programs. 

• Political and economic uncertainties in the U.S. may be influencing both applicants and host organizations. 

Looking Ahead 

BridgeUSA programs have long served as a cornerstone of both U.S. public diplomacy efforts and economic success. Reversing these declines will require coordinated efforts from government agencies, partner organizations, and host communities to ensure that the U.S. remains an attractive and accessible destination for young people and professionals worldwide. 

Rollout details and timing of new “Visa Integrity Fee” remain unclear

Created earlier this year as a part of H.R. 1 (otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill), a new “Visa Integrity Fee” would add a $250 charge to all approved nonimmigrant visas, in addition to any already existing application fees (pg. 300). The details of when this fee will go into effect and how it will be implemented, however, remain unclear. 

Many news outlets are currently reporting that the fee will go into effect on October 1, but that is not a certainty and will most likely not be the case. 

A July 22, 2025 Federal Register notice said that “the Visa Integrity Fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementing; the fee will be implemented in a future publication.” We have not heard any other official updates from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on implementation timing or process. 

The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, responsible for all visa issuance, also does not yet know when the fee will go into effect and what the details of implementation will look like. Senior Consular officials have told the Alliance that they have not received any details or guidance from DHS. 

While media reports are indicating an October 1 implementation date, it’s possible that this misinformation is coming from reading the bill language inaccurately. The bill says that the initial amount of the fee “for fiscal year 2025” will be at least $250, so some might be inferring (incorrectly) that it means that the government will begin implementation on the first day of fiscal year 2026, which is October 1, 2025. But nowhere in the bill text does it indicate an October 1 effective date. 

As the July 22 notice stated, there’s much “cross-agency coordination” that must happen before the fee is actually implemented. If the government happens to be able to do the necessary coordination and set up new systems before October 1, then the fee could theoretically start October 1. But the more likely scenario is that DHS will need more time, and the fee will be implemented further down the road, whenever the system is set up following the inter-agency coordination process. 

An interesting wrinkle in this fee is that it is meant to be reimbursable. H.R.1 describes the $250 fee as applicable to all nonimmigrant visas and to be paid at the time the visa is issued. The bill also notes that visa holders will be reimbursed the $250 if they: 

• Complied with all conditions of the visa, including not accepting unauthorized employment; 

• Have not sought to extend admission and departed the U.S. no later than 5 days after the last day of the visa’s valid period; or were granted an extension or adjustment to the status of lawful permanent resident. 

Like many other details, it’s unclear how a reimbursement of this fee might be processed. There is also no detail about how it would be applicable to visa holders changing status or what the five days means in the context of the 30-day grace period that comes with J-1 visas. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office1 in its cost estimate of H.R. 1 noted that it may take several years to implement a reimbursement process for this fee, creating more uncertainty about the timing of this system’s release. 

The Alliance continues to seek information on all of these details about this new fee and will keep our members posted as soon as we know more.  

Unnecessary visa interview pause threatens U.S. prosperity and security

The Trump administration’s decision to temporarily pause scheduling F, M, and J visa appointments jeopardizes the success of international exchange programs essential to the U.S.’ economic prosperity and national security.  On Tuesday, May 27, Politico reported that a cable sent to all embassies and consular posts by Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for consular sections to "not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.” This request stems from the Department’s plan to “evaluate operations and processes in preparation for expanded social media vetting of all student and exchange visitor visa applicants.”  The cable also states that “appointments already scheduled can proceed under current guidelines,” though the Alliance received reports that a small number of previously scheduled interviews were canceled after the cable was sent. It is important to note the scope of this pause: this impacts international youth, students, and professionals participating in BridgeUSA exchange programs, international leaders participating in professional exchanges, international students and scholars planning to contribute to U.S. universities and colleges, and so many more.  This pause negatively impacts the American businesses, families, schools, and communities that benefit from engaging with international exchange participants, leaders, and international students and scholars in their everyday life.  

Without... 

• ... international students, the U.S. would forfeit the $43.8 billion they contribute to the U.S. economy and the nearly 400,000 American jobs they support per year. 

• ... the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which provides short-term professional exchanges for international leaders, the U.S. would miss out on the $81.7 million the IVLP community puts back into American communities. 

• ... Summer Work Travel BridgeUSA participants working with local seasonal businesses across the country, the U.S. would lose the $353 million participants spend in the U.S. every year. 

• ... Intern and Trainee BridgeUSA participants working with American companies, the U.S. would lose the $264.2 million participants spend in the U.S. every year. 

• ... BridgeUSA Au Pairs supporting American families, the U.S. would lose the $143.8 million Au Pairs spend in the U.S. every year, and many American families will see their childcare costs increase significantly. 

• ... Camp Counselor BridgeUSA participants creating life-changing summer experiences for American youth, the U.S. would lose the $50.1 million Camp Counselors spend in the U.S. every year. 

And this just scratches the surface of all the ways international exchange participants and students make America more prosperous and enhance communities across the U.S. 

The Alliance strongly encourages the Department of State to immediately resume all nonimmigrant visa appointments for international exchange and education programs. 

Navigating the Paradox: International Student Visa Trends in 2023

The dynamic landscape of international education has been marked this year by a powerful paradox: aspiring international students are displaying a renewed interest in studying in the U.S., yet this enthusiasm is met with a growing struggle to secure visas. A dichotomy emerges – while U.S. enrollments are surging for the first time since the pandemic, a shadow looms as visa denials rise. Collectively, these elements shape the trajectory of international student mobility, offering insights into the United States’ public diplomacy impact and its role as a competitive global player.

As the grip of the pandemic loosens, 2023 has ushered in a renewed wave of international student mobility to the United States. The U.S. suffered a steep 15% decline in international student enrollments between the 2016-17 and 2020-21 academic years, and saw a modest uptick of 4% last year. Recent data released by the U.S. Department of State paints a promising picture of a substantial surge in F-1 student visa issuances in 2022. Compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic point of comparison, student visa issuances increased almost 13%, from 364,204 in 2019 to 411,131 in 2022. The State Department projects the numbers for 2023 to be even higher than last year (over 393,000 F-1 visas have already been issued up to the beginning of August).

Yet, amidst this resurgence is an increasing number of visa denials. State Department data reveals that over a third of student visa applications were denied in 2022. This marks an increase from the 20% denial rate in 2021, as well as the 25% denial rate in 2019. African students were particularly affected, with over half experiencing denials in 2022. Despite the enthusiasm to study in the U.S., many students are grappling with challenges throughout the visa application process, including complex immigration policies, challenges securing interview slots, visa processing delays, and the looming anxiety of potential rejections. This reality raises fundamental questions about the accessibility of American education.

How can we make sense of the simultaneous increase in visa issuances alongside the concerning rise in visa denials? The paradox is well illustrated by the case of Africa. Despite the discouraging rates of visa denials, which might suggest a gloomy outlook for U.S. student enrollment, the 2022 Open Doors data shows a substantial surge in student mobility from Sub-Saharan Africa to the U.S. In addition, last year, U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa issued 30,000+ student visas, more than in any of the previous six years. In particular, Nigeria and Ghana saw the highest number of student visas issued in more than two decades. While concerns about visa challenges affecting accessibility remain, the strong desire for American education becomes evident through the growing issuance of student visas in countries like Nigeria and Ghana.

Efforts to address student visa challenges are underway, with a recent meeting between the State Department and NAFSA, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and Shorelight. The discussions highlighted a visa denial report and acknowledged the importance of rectifying high visa denial rates, particularly in the Global South. Earlier this year, the State Department took steps to demonstrate its commitment to improving accessibility and efficiency of the visa application process. Some students are now eligible for visa waivers, and applicants can apply one year in advance, an expansion from the previous 120-day limit.

The evolving international student visa trends of 2023 introduce a complex dynamic between aspiration and challenge, promise and uncertainty. As we forge ahead, addressing the visa denial paradox becomes crucial not only for fostering inclusivity and global education accessibility but also for the United States to fortify its position as a leader in global education. The path forward demands a cohesive approach, with collaboration between stakeholders, governments, and educational institutions, along with our community that routinely transforms big dreams into reality.