US grants 62% fewer student visas to Indian applicants in 2025: Report

The number of F-1 student visas granted to Indian students by the United States has declined sharply in 2025, according to a report by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), raising concerns about future international student enrollment and the supply of skilled graduates to the US workforce.

According to the report, the decline in student visa issuance could have implications for US universities, the labor market, and the availability of international talent entering the country through post-study work pathways.

The study said Indian and Chinese students continue to account for the largest share of the international student community in the US.

Citing data from the Institute of International Education (IIE), it noted that 363,019 Indian students and 265,919 Chinese students were enrolled in US higher education institutions during the 2024-25 academic year. Together, they represented 53% of all international students.

To assess recent trends, the report examined F-1 student visas issued between May and August from 2017 to 2025, excluding 2020 because visa processing was significantly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The four-month period typically records the highest volume of student visas ahead of the academic session.

The analysis found that Indian students received 22,149 F-1 visas during May to August 2025, compared with 58,694 issued in the corresponding period of 2024. The figure was also 60% lower than the average recorded across 2017-19 and 2021-24.

Visa issuance to Chinese students also declined during the same period. The report said 40,034 F-1 visas were granted to Chinese nationals between May and August 2025, down from 61,075 in the corresponding months of 2024.

The report also examined the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which enables international students to work in the US after completing their education.

It said graduates from India and China make up a significant proportion of OPT participants, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

According to the CIS, lower student visa approvals could reduce the number of international graduates joining the US workforce through the OPT program.

The report also raised concerns about national security and technology transfer in sensitive research fields, while acknowledging that the overwhelming majority of international students travel to the US for genuine educational purposes.