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Origins and Destinations of
Foreign Students in the United
States (special focus on students from United Arab Emirates)
Neil G. Ruiz
Associate Director of Global Migration & Demography

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www.pewresearch.org
Main Data Source for Foreign Student Data
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data
received via a FOIA request from
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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www.pewresearch.org
Over 1 million foreign students
studying in the United States during 2015/16 school year
Source: Institute for International Education, Open Doors.
Number 1 destination of foreign students in the world

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+ 100%
+ 100%
+ 150%
+ 108%
+ 108%
+ 106%
+ 33%
+ 43%

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Cost of U.S. higher education increased significantly among
public schools

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Most “Popular” Universities 2016

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Students from China, India and South Korea account for more than half
(54%) of all foreign students pursuing higher educational degrees in 2016
Note: This includes higher education only; associates, bachelors, masters, and doctorates degrees. The Great Recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, as
defined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Source: Pew Research Center Analysis of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement data received through a Freedom of Information Act Request.

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274
814
2008 2016
Number of United Arab Emirates newly enrolled foreign
students in the U.S. nearly tripled between 2008-2016
Number of newly enrolled foreign students newly enrolled in associate,
bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree programs
Note: Foreign students are full-time students on F-1 visas approved to study in the United
States. Students approved for F-1 visas are assumed to be enrolled for studies at their
sponsoring school. Data are based on calendar year.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data,
received March 16. 2017, through a Freedom of Information Act request.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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About four-in-five newly
enrolled foreign students
from the United Arab
Emirates are pursuing a
bachelor’s degree
Share of newly enrolled foreign
students studying in the U.S., 2016
Note: Data are based on calendar year.
Foreign students are full-time students on F-
1 visas approved to study in the United
States. Students approved for F-1 visas are
assumed to be enrolled for studies at their
sponsoring school.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
data, received March 16. 2017, through a
Freedom of Information Act request.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Bachelor's
81%
Master's
10%
Doctorate
2%
Associate
7%
Total students: 814

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Male
87%
Female
13%
Total students: 814
Men are a majority of
newly enrolled United
Arab Emirates foreign
students in the U.S.
Share of newly enrolled foreign
students studying in the U.S., 2016
Note: Data are based on calendar year.
Foreign students are full-time students on
F-1 visas approved to study in the United
States. Students approved for F-1 visas are
assumed to be enrolled for studies at their
sponsoring school.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
data, received March 16. 2017, through a
Freedom of Information Act request.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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About four-in-five newly
enrolled foreign students
from the United Arab
Emirates are pursuing a
bachelor’s degree
Share of newly enrolled foreign
students studying in the U.S., 2016
Note: Data are based on calendar year.
Foreign students are full-time students on F-
1 visas approved to study in the United
States. Students approved for F-1 visas are
assumed to be enrolled for studies at their
sponsoring school.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
data, received March 16. 2017, through a
Freedom of Information Act request.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Bachelor's
81%
Master's
10%
Doctorate
2%
Associate
7%
Total students: 814

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Top 5 majors pursued by United Arab
Emirates newly enrolled foreign
students in the U.S., 2016
Number of newly enrolled foreign students, by major
Major Total
Engineering 262
Business, Management, Marketing and
Related Support Services 159
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General studies
and Humanities 80
Social Sciences 71
Homeland Security, Law enforcement,
Firefighting and related protective services 68
Note: Data are based on calendar year. Foreign students are full-
time students on F-1 visas approved to study in the United States.
Students approved for F-1 visas are assumed to be enrolled for
studies at their sponsoring school. Majors are collapsed based on
the National Center for Education’s Classification of Instructional
Programs (CIP).
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement data, received March 16. 2017, through a
Freedom of Information Act request.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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Work Authorization for Foreign Student Graduates

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The OPT program has grown rapidly in recent years
Source: Congressional Research Service presentation of data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as cited in Ruth Ellen
Wasem, “Temporary Professional, Managerial, and Skilled Foreign Workers: Policy and Trends” (Washington, DC: January 13, 2016).
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91
97
105
115
123
137150
2008 2014
Number of foreign students approved for
OPT approvals, 2008 to 2014
In thousands
Notes: Numbers rounded to nearest thousands. Numbers are for
each fiscal year.
Source: Congressional Research Service presentation of data from
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as cited in Ruth Ellen
Wasem, "Temporary Professional, Managerial, and Skilled Foreign
Workers: Policy and Trends" (Washington, DC: Congressional
Research Service, January 13, 2016)
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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www.pewresearch.org
Foreign students from India and China accounted for more
than half of all OPT approvals from 2012 to 2015
Of those applying
for OPT:
STEM Majors had
75% employment
rate compared to
Non-STEM Majors
(53%)

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Ten tech companies in the Fortune 500 with the highest market
valuation employed 8,725 or 3.5% of workers under the OPT program
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Student and Exchange Visitor Information data received via FOIA request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
520
214
520
1,936
1,067
906
1,563
180
739
1,080
421
176
446
1,637
912
812
1,552
171
711
1,063
OPT STEM
2,000
Apple Hewlett
Packard
IBM Amazon Microsoft Google Intel Cisco Oracle Qualcomm
Top 10 Fortune 500 companies with employed OPT students, including STEM
Number that technology companies hired…
Notes: Companies are listed from top to bottom in order of ranking. Data collected for the years 2012 to 2015
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

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Main Pathway for Retention in US:
Temporary Employment-Based Visa System

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H-1B visa applications have exceeded supply for the past
five years
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

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Since 2001, half of H-1B visas have been awarded to Indian
nationals
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services annual reports to Congress on H-1B petitions.

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Most H-1B applications seek STEM knowledge, but 1 in 4
don’t require a bachelor’s degree
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of data from U.S. Labor Department’s Labor Conditions Applications for 2011 and O*NET.

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More than half of all H-1B visa approvals in fiscal 2013
went to employers in four states

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www.pewresearch.org

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From Temporary to Permanent Residency:
The Green Card System

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U.S. Green Card system is majority family-based
One million immigrants receive lawful permanent resident status each year – also
known as a green card – that puts them on a path to citizenship, and most are
sponsored by family members

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Most Green Cards goes to those already living in the U.S.

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Contact Information
Neil G. Ruiz
Associate Director of Global Migration & Demography
nruiz@pewresearch.org
@neil_ruiz