US student visa slump hits Indian applicants amid Trump-era crackdown, scrutiny

The US student visa season — traditionally a time of frantic activity among Indian applicants preparing for the Fall semester — has seen an unexpected chill this year. The number of F-1 academic visas issued to Indian students between March and May 2025 has dropped to its lowest level for this period since the pandemic, signalling a new phase of restrictive policy enforcement.

According to the latest data from the US State Department, only 9,906 F-1 visas were issued to Indian nationals during these three crucial months — marking a sharp 27% decline compared to the 14,987 issued in the same window last year. In fact, this figure is even lower than 2022’s post-pandemic tally of 10,894 visas, when international travel had only just resumed.

The slowdown coincides with a Trump administration-led crackdown on international student enrolments, which has sparked growing concern in academic circles. Over the past few months, several students — including Indians — have had their visas revoked in connection with pro-Palestine demonstrations or other law enforcement interactions.

The administration also ordered a two-week suspension of new student visa interview appointments from May 27 to June 18 to roll out enhanced scrutiny, including mandatory vetting of social media profiles.

A May report by Politico revealed that US embassies were instructed to halt new student visa interviews as Washington considered tightening surveillance on foreign applicants. Soon after, the US Embassy in New Delhi urged F, M, and J category visa hopefuls to make their social media profiles public to speed up security screening.

This development comes against the backdrop of broader political and institutional shifts. Several US universities — already facing federal funding cuts and rising skepticism over international student enrolments — are navigating these changes while trying to maintain academic diversity.

The March–May slump follows a broader downward trend in 2024. F-1 visa approvals for Indian nationals fell significantly this year. From January to September 2024, only 64,008 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students — a steep fall from 1.03 lakh in the same period in 2023 and 93,181 in 2022.

Despite the decline, India continues to dominate as the largest source of international students in the US. During the 2023–24 academic year, Indian students surpassed their Chinese counterparts for the first time, according to Open Doors 2024 data.

In response to queries about the current dip, the US Embassy said visa adjudication remains central to national security. “We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible and anticipate extended processing times,” a spokesperson said, confirming that consular sections have resumed scheduling appointments for F-category visas.

“Consular sections constantly adjust their schedules to allow for sufficient time to fully vet the cases… to ensure they do not intend to harm America or our interests,” the spokesperson added. “Applicants must credibly establish their eligibility, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission.”

With the Fall semester approaching and uncertainty hanging in the air, Indian students and universities alike are bracing for what could become a long and contentious visa season.