Post by : Rameen Ariff

The United States issued nearly 20 percent fewer student visas in August, with India experiencing the sharpest drop, according to the latest data. India, which was last year the largest source of international students to the US, saw a 44.5 percent decline in student visas compared to 2024. China has now overtaken India as the top country of origin for US students.

In total, 313,138 student visas were issued in August, the most common month for university admissions in the US. Chinese students also saw a decline in visas, but at a much lower rate, with 86,647 visas granted to students from mainland China, more than double the number issued to Indians.

The decline comes amid stricter rules introduced by the Trump administration, which has prioritized limiting immigration and scrutinizing university admissions. Measures include suspending visa processing in peak months, requiring social media vetting, and revoking visas for those who oppose US foreign policy.

Particularly for Indian applicants, it has become harder to apply for visas outside their home countries, even when there are delays at US consulates. These new regulations also include higher fees for H-1B visas, mainly affecting Indian technology workers.

Meanwhile, the US is reportedly encouraging more Chinese students to study in America to strengthen bilateral relations, a shift from previous policies that targeted Chinese applicants over intellectual property concerns.

The visa drop is also notable among Muslim-majority countries. For example, the number of visas issued to Iranian students fell by 86 percent. Despite these changes, the statistics do not include students already in the US on previously issued visas.

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