Thousands of international students hoping to study in the United States are facing disappointment due to President Donald Trump’s travel ban. The policy affects citizens from 19 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, blocking most new visas, including student visas.
Bahara Saghari, 21, from Afghanistan, had worked for years to improve her English and earn a place at Knox College in Illinois. Her plans to study business administration this fall were canceled when the travel ban took effect. She tried deferring her admission, but the college denied her request. Saghari is now exploring universities in Europe, facing new challenges like language barriers and additional testing requirements.
Seventeen-year-old Pouya Karami from Iran also had his plans disrupted. He had been accepted to Pittsburg State University in Kansas to study polymer chemistry. Karami deferred admission and continues to hope that U.S. policies may change, even as he prepares for embassy interviews and seeks support from U.S. politicians.
The ban affects not just students, but their families. In Myanmar, 18-year-old “Gu Gu” had his acceptance to the University of South Florida celebrated by his family. But the sudden travel restrictions shattered their plans, forcing him to remain in a country embroiled in civil conflict.
The United States remains a top destination for international students, offering advanced research opportunities and academic freedom. Last year, over 5,700 F-1 and J-1 visas were issued to students from the affected countries. But with the new travel restrictions, many students are now considering Europe or Asia, even though these options may involve additional testing, language requirements, and costs.
For many students, the travel ban is more than a policy—it is a barrier to their dreams. “You think if you work hard and contribute, you have a place. Then you learn maybe people don’t want you there,” said an Iranian researcher affected by the restrictions.
The travel ban continues to leave aspiring international students in uncertainty, forcing them to delay, cancel, or reroute their educational journeys.
