US Student Visas for Indians Plunge 62% as America Tightens F-1 Approvals
Center for Immigration Studies data show 22,149 Indian F-1 visas were issued in the key May-August period, as expanded vetting and new rules slowed approvals.
- Between May and August 2025, the United States issued 22,149 F-1 visas to Indian nationals, a 62% decline from the 58,694 visas issued during the same period in 2024, according to a Center for Immigration Studies report.
- The Donald Trump administration has tightened screening for international students, replacing the long-standing "duration of status" system with a fixed period of stay for F-1 visa applicants.
- Chinese nationals received 40,034 F-1 visas during the same period, down 34% from 2024, while Indian and Chinese students together account for about 70% of all Optional Practical Training participants.
- While the administration cites national security concerns regarding espionage, the Center for Immigration Studies notes that new student visa rules could cost the United States economy up to $400 billion annually.
- Proposed Optional Practical Training changes include a $100,000 fee for international graduates, building on President Donald Trump's June 2025 proclamation suspending new international student entries at Harvard University.
27 Articles
27 Articles
US Student Visa Approvals for Indians Plunge 62%, Nearly Double China's Decline Amid Trump Crackdown
New Delhi: Indian students aspiring to study in the United States have suffered a major setback, with the number of US student visas issued to Indians dropping by 62% during the peak May-August 2025 period, nearly twice the decline recorded for Chinese students, according to new
US F-1 visas issued to Indian, Chinese students declined dramatically in 2025, reveals new report
According to the CIS study, students from India and the People's Republic of China (PRC) accounted for more than half of all international students enrolled at US post-secondary institutions during the 2024-25 academic year.
US student visa decline raises questions over security and academic competitiveness
A sharp decline in US student visas issued to Chinese and Indian nationals is fueling renewed debate over immigration policy, national security, and America’s long-standing role as the world’s leading destination for international education. A report released on August 3 by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a Washington-based think tank that advocates lower immigration levels, found that the US Department of State issued substantially fe…
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