Worried About U.S. Visa Revocations? Why International MBA Applicants May Face The Friendliest Odds In Years

Since the Trump administration started terminating the F-1 status of hundreds (maybe a few thousand) international students in mid-March, prospective international MBA applicants have been asking whether it still makes sense to apply to U.S.-based programs in 2025.

In late April, Inside Higher Ed put confirmed losses of visa status at 1,879; the American Immigration Lawyers Association said the total might be higher than 4,700. However, on April 25, after lawsuits filed by a coalition of 86 universities and the Presidents’ Alliance, the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement announced in federal court that it would restore the terminated records while it rewrites the policy.

However, the issue has not been put to rest. The administration may yet resort to other means of targeting international students in the coming days. It has only agreed to restore status while it comes up with a new policy with clearer guidelines.

STUDENTS WITH ANTI-AMERICAN VIEWS TARGETED

In an April 30 Substack newsletter, Secretary of State Marco Rubio writes, “The State Department has now made clear that a visa is a privilege, not a right. … Whenever the government catches non-U.S. citizens breaking our laws, we will take action to revoke their status. … This extends to the thousands of foreign students studying in the United States who abuse our hospitality.”

It is worth noting that during this time, forced departures numbered in the dozens, not thousands. Moreover, the Trump administration’s intention seems to be to target students who have expressed what they consider anti-American views, or those who have violated the law in some (even minor) way. The intention does not appear to be to drive away all foreign students.

The State Department launched a program that is being referred to as “Catch and Revoke,” which uses AI tools to scour social media for signs of support for designated terrorist organizations (notably Hamas) or other “anti-American” content. Students who participated in campus protests — for example, demonstrations against the Gaza war — or even those who voiced pro-Palestinian sentiments online have found themselves targeted. Others were flagged for relatively minor infractions like traffic violations. There are reports of some students whose visas were revoked for no clear stated reason.

YOUR CHANCE OF ADMISSION MAY ACTUALLY IMPROVE

Well before the first visa terminations made headlines, international interest in U.S. graduate study was sliding. StudyPortals search-traffic data show a 40 percent drop in interest in U.S. postgraduate programs between January and March 2025. This drop was particularly pronounced among Iranian and Bangladeshi students at 61% and 54%, respectively, and was quite significant among students from India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, at approximately 35% each.

This shift is widely seen as a response to the incoming administration’s attitude toward foreigners and its more restrictive stance on student visas. We have yet to get a clear sense of how significantly the recent headlines will impact the upcoming MBA application cycle. Demand at the most elite MBA programs is likely to be more stable than the overall data seems to suggest. Even so, this survey is an early sign that many potential applicants are reconsidering — or at least pausing — their plans. Several news reports and articles, including on Poets&Quants, have covered this trend. The latest headlines may have only caused the interest to drop further.

This does not of course mean that the incoming class will have lower qualifications or less accomplishments. But for a strong candidate applying to a top business school, the lower competition means that the likelihood of acceptance, particularly for applicants from one of the above-mentioned countries, into one of their chosen schools is likely to go up this year.

Business schools don’t have fixed quotas for each country or region, but the geography and nationality of applicants is a factor in how the application is evaluated, and adcoms’ assessment of an applicant’s fit in their incoming class.

U.S. B-SCHOOLS STILL WANT YOU

U.S. schools — and business schools in particular — recognize diversity as a crucial element of the educational experience. This commitment is reinforced by the fact that diversity continues to weigh heavily in influential rankings like Bloomberg Businessweek and The Financial Times.

Additionally, international students made a major economic contribution in 2023-24, pouring $43.8 billion into the U.S. economy and supporting 378,000 jobs, according to an Open Doors report. MBA programs rely on this revenue to fund electives, global immersion trips, and robust career-services teams.

In other words, if you are a qualified international candidate who can tolerate the uncertainty, you may experience a particularly favorable admissions landscape this year: less crowded information sessions, better admissions odds, more accommodating schools, perhaps even increased scholarship opportunities

A MINIMALIST RISK-MANAGEMENT PLAYBOOK

Before you decide to sit this cycle out or leap in with both feet, consider these practical steps to protect your candidacy and reduce potential disruptions. Each one is simple, actionable, and could make a real difference.

Scrub your digital footprint — now.  Media reports suggest that most revocations were triggered by keywords or imagery scraped by AI tools that may not parse nuance well. Audit your presence on every public-facing platform; lock down or delete posts that could be misread as extremist or anti-U.S. based on the current administration’s priorities.

Apply in Round 1. Doing so gives you several advantages: more time to navigate visa processing and other bureaucratic surprises, plus the potential benefit of reduced competition if risk-averse candidates delay their applications to Round 2. And if the landscape changes, having your Round 1 materials ready allows you to shift your application to a later round without scrambling.

Line up a Plan B. Even if the U.S. remains your top choice, keep at least one strong non-U.S. option alive. Programs like INSEAD or London Business School can serve as strategic backups.

Yes, there are other prudent steps — stay squeaky-clean on campus, stay on the right side of the law, of course, and know when to call an immigration attorney. Understand the current administration’s priorities and goals to manage risk until there is more clarity and continue to stay cautious.

IS THE RISK WORTH IT FOR YOU?

The political climate undeniably introduces additional risk. Policies could tighten, and international students may face ongoing challenges.
In order to perform a quick assessment of your risk tolerance, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Can you handle policy swings?
2. Based on current data, the chance of having your visa revoked is statistically low. But the anxiety and fear this has caused among international students is quite high. Is this something you can handle while still being able to focus on your education and get the most out of your MBA experience?
3. Do you plan to work in the U.S. long term?

If you’re open to returning home — or moving to London or Singapore — the immediate educational return may outweigh the uncertainty.

If your post-MBA goal is to work in the U.S., the current uncertainty about long-term prospects is also a factor to weigh carefully. By the time you graduate in spring 2028, the current administration will still be in charge. The political winds may shift after that, but it is also possible that the next administration will continue current policies.

On the flip side, if the business schools follow the lead of Harvard College, they might allow applicants to defer enrollment or simultaneously enroll at a non-U.S. school as a backup option, which helps manage the risk a little better. Moreover, the economic contribution of international students is not lost on policymakers. Industry and academic leaders are lobbying hard to protect this talent pipeline. As noted before, the administration isn’t targeting all international students, and it might come up with a clearer policy soon.

Is the upside meaningful enough? An elite MBA still provides a global network and salary bump that few other degrees match. If a temporarily smaller applicant pool gives you the edge to land a seat at your dream school, the bet can pay off handsomely.

BOTTOM LINE

The fundamental strengths of a U.S. MBA remain. American business schools are world-renowned, offering unparalleled networks and career opportunities. In spite of the recent anxiety and fear, over a million international students are still successfully studying in the U.S.

If you have the risk tolerance and can manage your profile carefully, there could be an opportunity here. While many of your peers hesitate, if you craft a compelling (and apolitical) application, it could give you friendlier odds. Therefore, it is a good idea to proceed with your preparations. Waiting for complete certainty means losing valuable runway and the chance to capitalize on this unique, albeit challenging and unfortunate, environment.

---

Kanishka Elupula is a Harvard PhD and a consultant at Admitify. He specializes in helping international applicants gain admission to top US and global MBA programs. His clients have been accepted to top US MBA programs such as Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, and Booth, as well as top global programs such as INSEAD and LBS. You can book a free consultation with him here.