Indian student visa approvals plunge by 45% year-over-year as the US intensifies restrictions on international scholars.
Published On 6 Oct 2025
The issuance of student visas by the United States has experienced a significant downturn, falling nearly 20% compared to the same month last year. This decline is especially pronounced among Indian applicants, reflecting the impact of stringent immigration policies implemented under the Trump administration.
According to recent figures from the International Trade Commission, approximately 313,138 student visas were granted in August 2025, a period that coincides with the start of the academic year in the US. This represents a 19.1% reduction from August 2024.
Indian students, who constitute the largest group of international learners in American universities, saw their visa approvals plummet by 44.5% during this timeframe. Chinese students also faced a decrease, though less severe in comparison.
Moreover, several countries with predominantly Muslim populations experienced drastic drops in student visa issuance. For instance, Iranian student visas declined by an alarming 86%. It is important to note that these statistics do not account for the total number of foreign students currently enrolled in US institutions, many of whom hold valid visas issued prior to these restrictions.
This downward trend aligns with the Trump administration’s increasingly restrictive stance on immigration, coupled with heightened political pressure exerted on US higher education institutions through funding mechanisms.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been instrumental in revoking thousands of student visas, citing reasons such as legal infractions, involvement in protests, or even criticism of Israel. These actions have coincided with surveillance efforts by pro-Israel organizations targeting university students engaged in pro-Palestinian activism.
In a move to tighten scrutiny, Rubio temporarily halted all student visa processing in June to implement enhanced monitoring of applicants’ social media activity.
Officials reviewing visa applications were instructed to identify any signs of antagonism toward American citizens, culture, government, institutions, or foundational values.
Despite these measures, the administration’s approach has shown inconsistencies. Initially, there was a pledge to limit the number of Chinese students admitted to the US. However, in August, Trump announced plans to welcome 600,000 Chinese students, a figure that doubles the current enrollment from China.
“We’re going to allow, it’s very important, 600,000 students. It’s very important,” Trump emphasized during a press briefing.
