The Impact of Temporary Visas on U.S.-Trained Science and Engineering Doctorate Recipients

Foreign-born talent is an important component of the nation’s science and engineering (S&E) enterprise. Roughly three-quarters of the S&E doctorate recipients on temporary visas who received their degrees from U.S. higher education institutions from 2017 to 2019 remained in the United States approximately 5 years after graduation, defined here as the short-term stay rate.​ Specifically, 32,650 (73%) of 44,450 temporary visa holders who received S&E doctorates from U.S. institutions during this period still resided in the United States in 2023. China and India were by far the most common countries of origin, accounting for 36% (15,800) and 13% (5,750), respectively, of all S&E doctorate recipients on temporary visas. The short-term stay rates for S&E doctorate recipients from China (83%) and India (86%) were significantly higher than the average across all countries of origin (73%). Individuals from South Korea (50%), Turkey (53%), and Taiwan (68%) had significantly lower short-term stay rates than did those from China and India. Other countries in Asia collectively accounted for 9% of all S&E doctorate recipients on temporary visas. The Middle East region accounted for 9% of the total, followed by Europe (7%, excluding Turkey) and Africa (4%). Short-term stay rates for doctorate recipients from the Middle East (72%), Europe (68%, excluding Turkey), and Africa (75%) were not significantly different from one another.

Table ​1

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Residence of 2017–19 U.S. S&E doctorate recipients on temporary visas, by region, country, or economy of origin: 2023

(Number and percent)

Place of origin	Total	U.S. residence	Non-U.S. residence
		Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Total	44,450	32,650	73	11,800	27
China	15,800	13,150	83	2,700	17
India	5,750	4,950	86	800	14
South Korea	2,550	1,300	50	1,300	50
Turkey	1,350	700	53	650	47
Taiwan	1,150	750	68	350	32
Other countries in Asia	4,200	2,600	62	1,600	38
Middle East	4,050	2,900	72	1,150	28
Europe, excluding Turkey	3,250	2,200	68	1,050	32
Africa	1,800	1,350	75	450	25
All other regions	4,550	2,750	60	1,800	40

S&E = science and engineering.

Note(s):

Numbers are rounded to the nearest 50. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Calculations of stay rates are based on unrounded estimates. China includes Hong Kong. All other regions includes Australia-Oceania, Central America and the Caribbean, North America excluding the United States, and South America.

Source(s):

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2023, and Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2017–19.

The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) has reviewed this product for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and approved its release (NCSES-FY24-011).

Suggested citation: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). 2025. Most U.S.-Trained Science and Engineering Doctorate Recipients on Temporary Visas Remain in the United States. NSF 25-325. Alexandria, VA: U.S. National Science Foundation. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf25325.

Note(s)

1The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics estimates both short-term and long-term stay rates. Long-term stay rates are based on individuals who remain in the United States approximately 10 years after graduation.