US EditionAsian Student Arrivals to US Plunge to Lowest Level Since COVID-19 Pandemic
The US issued 313,138 student visas in August, a 19.1% decrease from last year, with India’s visas dropping 44.5% amid Trump-era visa delays and restrictions.
- For a 27-year-old Indian journalist, a dream of studying at Columbia University ended abruptly when the US denied him a student visa, not due to lack of merit or money, but likely due to his social media presence.
- Many Indian students have reported similar visa denials in recent months, despite strong academic records and scholarships, after passing all prior steps.
- Arrivals from India fell by 50% in August 2025, driving an overall 19% year-on-year decline, amid stricter US immigration rules, university pressure, and social media vetting policies.
63 Articles
63 Articles
The U.S. government issued 20% less student visas in August, following the tightening of measures promoted by President Donald Trump. India led the fall of visas issued, followed by China, according to data published on Monday. The U.S. issued 313,138 student visas in August, the most common month for the start of classes in that country. The figure represented a 19.1% drop compared to the same month in 2024, according to a report by the Interna…
Indian Student With $100,000 Columbia Scholarship Denied US Visa. Here's Why
Kaushik Raj, a 27-year-old journalist from Delhi, was all ready to live his American dream with a $100,000 (approximately Rs 89 lakh) scholarship in hand to pursue a masters degree in data journalism at Columbia University.
Was an Indian student with Rs 89 lakh scholarship denied US visa over social media posts?
Kaushik Raj, a 27-year-old Indian, with a $100,000 (Rs 89 lakh) scholarship from the prestigious Columbia University was denied a US visa. While his rejection letter states that he had failed to demonstrate ‘sufficient ties to India’, he believes it was because of his critical social media posts
International Student Arrivals Drop 19%
Some experts note that the entry data contradicts enrollment increases shown in SEVIS data—while others say the declines are even more extreme than the arrivals data indicates. August records of international visitors’ arrivals in the U.S. show 19 percent fewer international students arrived in the country as compared to the same month in 2024, according to a New York Times analysis of the data. That figure is in line with international enrollme…
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