Now Reading: US student visas for Indians fall 62% in 2025 peak season
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US student visas for Indians fall 62% in 2025 peak season
US consulates issued 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025, a 62 per cent drop from 58,694 in the same period a year earlier, according to data…
The Story in Brief
US consulates issued 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025, a 62 per cent drop from 58,694 in the same period a year earlier, according to data from the US-based Centre for Immigration Studies. China saw a smaller 34 per cent decline. India still remains the largest source of international students in the US, with 363,019 enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year.
The fall comes amid tighter US immigration rules, including fixed admission periods for F-1 visa holders and shorter post-graduation grace periods. Separately, a survey by Oxford International says 81 per cent of Indian students planning to study abroad expect to return to India after completing their education. The federal report notes Indian graduates dominate the OPT programme and STEM extensions.
The Indian Opinion
The visa numbers are a sharp drop, but the panic over a broken US dream misses the bigger shift. Indian students are voting with their feet: 81 per cent plan to return home, so a US degree is now a skill booster, not a migration ticket. The real test is whether Indian institutions and employers can absorb this returning talent. Will the government convert this repatriation into jobs and research output, or will the brain gain turn into another waiting list? Watch the next OPT policy ruling for the answer.
Sources (2): thefederal.com, news.abplive.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
