Indian students studying in the US are currently facing a challenging period due to the Trump administration’s crackdown on international students.
Foreign students are facing various issues, including revoked F-1 visas, cancelled student records in SEVP, and restrictions on their free movement in and out of America.
Although revocation and cancellation of SEVP records have been halted and status restored for those who faced backlash, the new rules surrounding the US Visa screening process have put students in a difficult spot.
Concern Raised
In the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament 2025, an unstarred question was raised in Rajya Sabha regarding enhanced US visa screening and the steps the Government is taking to ensure that Indian students and professionals are not unfairly targeted or subjected to discretionary visa delays in light of this development.
Govt Reply
The minister of state in the Ministry of External Affairs replied:
On 18 June 2025, U.S. Department of State issued a Press Release titled, ‘Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants.’
The press release states that the U.S. utilizes all available information in its visa screening and vetting process to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security.
Under the new guidance, the U.S. would conduct a comprehensive vetting, including online presence of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications.
To facilitate this vetting, the U.S. has required all applicants to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.”
The new U.S. guidance mentions that every visa adjudication is a national security decision, and calls on all applicants to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.
The minister replied that the issuance of visas and the related policy and processes are the sovereign prerogative of the concerned state.
However, the Government of India remains engaged with the U.S. Government to promote mutually advantageous and secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals, and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel.
Government also remains engaged with US authorities on addressing illegal immigration and human trafficking by taking strong action against the bad actors, criminal facilitators, and illegal immigration networks.