Indian students looking to study in the United States faced a major setback during the 2025 admissions season as F-1 student visa approvals dropped sharply. According to an analysis by the US-based Centre for Immigration Studies (CIS), American consulates issued only 22,149 F-1 visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025.
The figure marked a 62 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2024, when 58,694 visas were issued. The fall was significantly higher than China’s decline during the same period. F-1 visa approvals for Chinese students dropped 34 per cent year-on-year, from 61,075 to 40,034.
The May-August period is considered crucial for student visa processing as most international students receive approvals before the start of the US academic year.
How does the decline impact Indian students in the US?
Despite the fall in visa approvals, India continues to remain the largest source of international students in the United States. Data from the Institute of International Education (IIE) showed that 363,019 Indian students enrolled in US colleges and universities during the 2024-25 academic year.
China ranked second with 265,919 students. Together, Indian and Chinese students accounted for more than half of the 1.17 million international students studying in American higher education institutions.
The CIS report warned that the decline in student visas could affect future enrolments, the number of international graduates entering the US workforce and immigration-related discussions.
Indian students are also the biggest beneficiaries of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows eligible international graduates to work in the US after completing their studies. During the 2024-25 academic year, 143,740 Indian graduates were working under OPT, nearly half of all international participants.
Are Trump-era visa rules making the US less attractive for students?
The sharp decline comes amid tighter immigration policies under the Trump administration. The US Department of Homeland Security has introduced changes affecting F-1 students, including replacing the previous “duration of status” system with a fixed admission period.
Under the new rules, most students will generally be allowed to stay for up to four years and may need extensions if their programmes take longer. The administration has also reduced the post-graduation grace period from 60 days to 30 days and introduced stricter rules for changing schools or academic programmes.
The Trump administration has also reviewed the OPT programme, raising concerns among international students, especially Indians who form the largest group of participants, particularly in STEM fields.
First published on: Aug 07, 2026 10:26 AM IST
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About the Author
Shivam Verma
Shivam Verma is a Chief-Sub-Editor at News24. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football, both playing and watching, and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
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