The Department of State announced this week that in 2008 they issued a record high number of Student and Exchange Visitor visas. For Fiscal Year 2008, the Department of State issued more than 710,000 F, J and M student and exchange visitor visas, an increase of 9.1% as compared to the amount of visas issued in Fiscal Year 2007 and more than a 25% increase as compared to Fiscal Year 2001.

2008 marks the third fiscal year in a row that the Department of State has broken the record for Student and Exchange Visitor visa issuances. There was a nearly 40% increase in visas issued to Chinese National Students than in 2007 and a more than 25% increase in visas issued to students from the Middle East since last year.

According to the Department of State, “One of the foundations of the U.S. academic and scientific communities is vibrant international participation.” The Department remains committed to continuing to provide access to the United States’ highly regarded academic institutions for international students in the years to come.