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Immigration Law

State Department Foreign Affairs Manual on student intent

The State Department Foreign Affairs Manual is like a playbook for consular officers reviews visa applications at consulates overseas. It does not have the force of law but (in theory at least) reflects how the statute and regulations are executed on the ground.

How does the FAM instruct consular officers to apply the "not intent to abandon standard" in the context of student visa applicants? Does this differential standard make sense? Note that the State Department rejected an unprecedented 35 percent of student visa applicants in 2022.