A new report finds student visa refusals reached a 35% high last year, with rejection rates exceeding 90% in some countries. The authors argue the current visa environment “undermines the principle of merit-based entry.” The statistics raise immediate implications for U.S. international enrollment planning and recruitment strategy, particularly for institutions relying on global demand and multi-year yield forecasts. For campus international offices, the key operational effect is heightened uncertainty around admissions conversion, document readiness, and the ability to support timely enrollment starts. Institutions may also face compliance and advising strain as appeals, supplemental documentation, and reapplication cycles grow more common for prospective students.