NUMBER OF NEPALI STUDENTS IN USA INCREASES

November 18, 2007

The number of Nepali students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities grew 11 percent last year to 4,861, according to a new annual report published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Among the top 25 sending countries, Nepal is number 23 and shows the highest rate of growth over the previous year, in which 4,384 students were enrolled in the U.S.

"The United States remains the best place in the world to pursue higher education, and we continue to assure international students that they are welcome in our country," said Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Dina Habib Powell on the occasion of International Education Week, November 14-18.

In 2004-05, the total number of international students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions remained fairly steady at 565,039, off about 1% from the previous year's totals, according to Open Doors 2005, IIE's annual report. This marked the sixth year in a row that America hosted more than half a million foreign students. Open Doors 2005 reports that Asia, which continues to be the largest sending region by a wide margin, showed a slight increase in enrollments.

The U.S. government's commitment to promoting American education among international students is demonstrated by Education USA advising centers around the world. In Nepal, the Education USA advising center is run by the U.S. Educational Foundation in Nepal (USEF-Nepal).  The USEF-Nepal website www.fulbrightnepal.org.np and its library, located in Gyaneshwor, provide a wealth of free information and services about education in the United States.

The Department of State welcomes this sustained interest among international students in coming to the United States to study.  Although we have implemented new measures to make our borders and the traveling public more secure, we have not changed the basic criteria for visa eligibility to visit or study in the United States.  Prospective students must convince the interviewing officer that they have the intent to study, the ability to study, and the means to pay for their studies.  They also have to convince the officer that they will return to Nepal after their degree.  For more information about student visas, please visit the Education USA website at http://educationusa.state.gov/.

Find out more about U.S. government support for International Education week at http://iew.state.gov/.

# # #