The number of Indian student arrivals in the United States on student visas fell 39% in August compared with the same period last year, marking the third consecutive annual decline for the month, which typically sees a major influx of international students ahead of the fall semester.
Data from the US Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration showed 25,321 arrivals on F and M category visas in August, down from 41,540 a year earlier. The figure was the lowest for August since 2020 and 73% below the peak recorded in August 2023.
The decline began in 2024 and accelerated after US President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025. Arrivals fell 20.3% in August 2024, followed by a 44.5% decline in August 2025 and a further 39% drop this year.
Education consultants have attributed the fall to visa appointment delays, stricter screening procedures, higher rejection rates, rising education costs and uncertainty surrounding post-study employment opportunities.
In June 2025, the US State Department introduced guidance requiring student and exchange visitor visa applicants to make their social media profiles public for review. Expanded screening and compliance measures also affected visa issuance, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
An MEA response in Parliament stated that the US issued 12,776 F-1 visas to Indian nationals in June and July 2025, compared with 41,336 during the same period a year earlier, representing a decline of 69.1%.
Arrivals continued to weaken in subsequent months, falling 17.3% year-on-year in June and 30.6% in July. Although September recorded a 5% increase compared with the previous year, arrivals remained 37.5% below September 2024 levels.
A paper published in April by US-based education company Shorelight, using government data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, reported that the F-1 visa refusal rate for Indian applicants rose from 36% in fiscal 2023 to 53% in 2024 and 61% in 2025.
Consultants said uncertainty over employment opportunities and proposed changes to Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to work in their field during or after their studies, was also influencing decisions.
The US Department of Homeland Security proposed new fees for OPT participation on October 8, including a proposed $70,000 payment for an initial OPT period and $30,000 for each subsequent period. A separate rule intended to replace the existing Duration of Status system with fixed admission periods of up to four years was blocked by a federal court in September, with the government appealing the decision.
Education advisers said these developments were prompting students and families to reassess the financial returns of studying in the US. Visa delays, currency fluctuations and concerns about future employment were adding to the pressure on families already facing high tuition fees and living expenses.
Some students are considering alternative destinations, including Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Others are exploring Indian universities or postponing their plans until greater clarity emerges on US visa procedures and post-study work policies.
The data, however, measure arrivals rather than unique students or university enrolments and do not establish the precise reasons behind the decline. The figures also include dependants travelling on F-2 and M-2 visas, meaning the reduction in arrivals cannot be interpreted as an equivalent decline in student enrolments.
