The number of US student visas issued to Indian nationals during the peak admission season fell by 62% in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to an analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies, a US-based organisation that advocates lower immigration levels.
The sharp decline came amid tighter screening of international students and a series of stricter immigration measures affecting F-1 visa applicants under the Donald Trump administration.
According to the analysis, the United States issued 22,149 F-1 visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025, the period when most student visas are granted ahead of the academic year.
This was down from 58,694 visas issued during the same period in 2024 and was around 60% below the average recorded across the years 2017-19 and 2021-24.
Chinese nationals received 40,034 F-1 visas during the same four-month period, representing a 34% decline from 61,075 in 2024 and a 46% fall compared with the multi-year average.
The May-August period accounts for nearly three-fourths of annual student visa issuances for both Indian and Chinese nationals, making it an important indicator of international student inflows before the beginning of each academic year.
Indians Remain the Largest International Student Group
Despite the decline in visa issuance, students from India and China continue to form the two largest international student groups in the United States.
During the 2024-25 academic year, 363,019 Indian students were enrolled in US higher education institutions, while China accounted for 265,919 students.
Together, Indian and Chinese students made up around 53% of the 1.17 million international students studying in the country, according to the Institute of International Education.
Stricter Screening for Student Visa Applicants
The decline in F-1 visa issuance coincided with several policy changes affecting international students.
In May 2025, the US temporarily suspended the scheduling of new student visa interviews worldwide before resuming appointments under expanded screening procedures.
The administration also broadened mandatory social media vetting for F, M and J visa applicants. Applicants were required to make their social media profiles publicly accessible for review as part of national security screening.
The Trump administration also targeted specific institutions. In June 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation seeking to suspend the entry of new international students planning to study at Harvard University under F, M and J visas, citing national security concerns. The move later faced legal challenges.
Fixed Stay Period Proposed for F-1 Students
The Department of Homeland Security also moved to replace the long-standing “duration of status” framework with a fixed period of authorised stay for F-1 students.
Under the proposed framework, many international students could receive an initial stay of up to four years. Those requiring additional time to complete their programmes may need to apply for extensions.
The administration has also been considering changes to the Optional Practical Training programme, including a proposal that could impose a $100,000 fee on some international graduates seeking permission to work in the United States after completing their studies. The proposal has not yet been finalised.
OPT Programme Comes Under Scrutiny
The analysis linked the fall in student visa issuance to concerns surrounding the Optional Practical Training programme.
During the 2024-25 academic year, 294,253 international graduates were working in the United States under OPT.
Indian nationals accounted for 143,740 participants, while 61,981 were from China. Together, the two countries represented around 70% of all OPT workers.
OPT allows most international graduates to work in the US for up to 12 months after completing their studies. Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields may qualify for an additional 24-month extension.
The report argued that employers hiring OPT participants are not subject to the same wage requirements that apply to H-1B workers and may also receive payroll tax benefits in certain cases.
According to the author, this could give employers a financial incentive to hire foreign graduates instead of American workers.
National Security Concerns Raised
The report also argued that lower student numbers from China could reduce risks related to espionage and technology theft on American university campuses.
It cited statements from former US officials and government reports alleging that China has used overseas students and researchers to support technology acquisition and military development.
However, such claims remain politically sensitive and have raised concerns among universities and civil rights groups about the risk of unfairly targeting Chinese students and researchers.
The report concluded that a sustained decline in student visas issued to Indian and Chinese nationals could reduce the future number of international graduates entering the OPT programme.
It also warned that continued visa restrictions could significantly reshape international enrolment at American universities in the coming years.
