U.S. Customs and Border Protection Reports Decline in Nepali Student Overstay Rate

Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals a notable decline in the overstay rate among Nepali students in the United States for fiscal year 2023. Of the 4,391 Nepali students expected to depart, 23 were classified as “Out-of-Country Overstays,” while 425 were marked as “Suspected In-Country Overstays.” This results in a total overstay rate of 10.20%, with a Suspected In-Country Overstay rate at 9.68%.

This year’s figures show improvement from FY2022, when 4,083 Nepali students were expected to leave the U.S. Among them, 37 became Out-of-Country Overstays, and 643 were categorized as Suspected In-Country Overstays. The overall overstay rate for Nepali students that year was 16.65%, with a Suspected In-Country Overstay rate of 15.75%.

CBP clarifies that it identifies two types of overstays: individuals for whom no departure was recorded (Suspected In-Country Overstays) and those whose departure was recorded after their authorized period of admission expired (Out-of-Country Overstays).

An overstay, CBP notes, is defined as a nonimmigrant who was “lawfully admitted to the United States but remained in the United States beyond the authorized period of admission. This can be a fixed period or for the duration of a certain activity, such as the period during which a student is pursuing a full course of study or any authorized technical/practical training program.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) further elaborates that “the authorized admission period ends when the foreign national has accomplished the purpose for which they were admitted or is no longer engaged in authorized activities pertaining to that purpose. For example, a student who enters the United States for a program must leave when the program is completed, change to another immigration status, or go on to pursue another program of study.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently reported that 23,043 Nepali students are currently studying in the United States. According to this data, sourced from SEVIS, Nepali students rank 13th among international students in the U.S.

India leads with the highest number of international students, followed by China in second place. South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Nigeria, and Mexico round out the top 10. Bangladesh and Colombia hold the 11th and 12th spots, respectively, with Nepal in 13th.

The number of Nepali students has risen from 20,344 in 2022 to over 23,000 in 2023. This figure includes students who entered the U.S. on a student visa or who transitioned to student status after arrival, now studying in various colleges and universities across the country.

In 2023, SEVIS data shows that 3,416 Nepali students were approved for participation in STEM OPT programs. Among international students approved for STEM OPT, Indians rank first, followed by Chinese, South Koreans, and then Nepalis. The STEM OPT program provides work authorization for international students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, allowing them to gain practical work experience in the U.S.

In Fiscal Year 2024, over 14,000 Nepali students received U.S. student visas, more than double the previous year’s count. The Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State reported that 6,203 Nepali students were granted student visas in FY2023, a decrease from 6,780 in 2022 but significantly higher than the 3,453 in 2021.