The US Department of State’s decision to prioritize FIFA World Cup visitor visas over F 1 and J 1 student and exchange visas has drawn sharp criticism from higher education leaders, who warn of another enrollment decline in the 2026 27 academic year. At the NAFSA 2026 conference in Orlando, Zuzana Cepla Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, told The PIE News that the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) has relegated student visa applicants to the bottom of consular interview queues. The policy mirrors last year’s four week visa interview freeze, which caused cascading delays in key markets and contributed to a 36% year on year drop in student visa issuances from June to August 2025, according to State Department data. The delays compound existing barriers for international students. Cepla Wootson highlighted the cumulative effect of policies such as enhanced social media vetting for all F, M, and J visa applicants—introduced under a March 2025 State Department cable—and ongoing travel restrictions. These measures, she argued, are pushing students toward competitor nations. At NAFSA, she pointed to the rise of the “Big Fourteen” host countries, including Germany and China, which are expanding their international education offerings to attract students displaced from the US. The Presidents’ Alliance estimates that every three international students in the US support one domestic job, underscoring the economic stakes of declining enrollment. The impact extends beyond degree seeking students. Mark Overmann, president of the Alliance for International Exchange, reported that 19% of potential summer work and travel participants and 6% of camp counselors under the BridgeUSA program risk missing visa interviews entirely. A coalition of 32 organizations led by the American Council on Education (ACE) has urged the State Department to expedite processing during peak season, warning of shrinking talent pipelines. The coalition’s letter highlights delays at global consulates caused by enhanced vetting procedures and calls for greater transparency about processing timelines. Congressional action offers limited relief. At NAFSA, sector leaders noted bipartisan resistance to proposed funding cuts for study abroad, including a 68% reduction that was swiftly rejected in favor of a USD 641 million allocation. The reintroduction of the Senator Paul Simon Act and the formation of a congressional caucus on international exchange signal growing support for mobility programs. However, challenges persist, particularly as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) continues to intervene in visa processing. With peak season underway, institutions are advocating for clearer communication from federal agencies about processing expectations for the fall 2026 term.