Now Reading: US F-1 visas for Indian students fell 62% in 2025
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US F-1 visas for Indian students fell 62% in 2025
US F-1 visas for Indian students fell 62% in 2025
The Story in Brief
A Centre for Immigration Studies report said the US issued 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025. This was 62% lower than in 2024 and 60% below the average for 2017-19 and 2021-24. Visas for Chinese nationals fell to 40,034, down 34% from 2024 and 46% from the comparable average.
Indian and Chinese students formed 53% of foreign students at US post-secondary institutions in 2024-25, according to data cited from the Institute of International Education. The report said fewer new students could reduce the future Optional Practical Training workforce. It also raised national security concerns about Chinese students in sensitive fields, while acknowledging that not all had malicious intent.
The Indian Opinion
The reported fall is significant for Indian students and US universities, but the reasons remain unclear from the available information. Visa policy, processing conditions and student choices may all matter. Claims linking Chinese students broadly with espionage should not be treated as proof against individuals. At the same time, governments can reasonably review technology and security risks in sensitive research without portraying all foreign students as threats.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
