The student visas issued by the US government has dropped by 15% globally to 89,000 in the first half of fiscal year 2025 (October-March) with India reporting a massive fall of 43.5% in fresh visas compared to the same period in 2024, as per the US Department of State.
With just over 11,100 F-1 visa issued, the US’ second-largest source market China too recorded a significant 24.1% drop.
Low visa issuance
The drop in visa issuance is largely on account of lower international student enrolments in the US universities as many students have turned cautious due to the policy flip-flop under the Trump administration, potential cuts in the federal funding, and a general stringent stance of the US government on immigration. Even though the first half of a fiscal typically accounts for only one in every four F-1 visa issuances, the situation is likely to exacerbate in the the second half of fiscal 2025 due to a nearly month-long pause in new visa appointments over May and June. Then, the high-profile tiff between the Trump administration and the Ivy League universities has further dampened the students’ sentiments.
Despite a fall in visas in major markets like India and China, countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Colombia and Zimbabwe have registered a strong growth in fresh visa issuances, as per the official data. Although these countries still have a relatively smaller base, the trend indicates of a broader shift in the profile of international students in the US.
H12025
“In H12025, half-year F-1 issuances fell below 100,000 for the first time in four years. However, total issuances for this time period still remained well above pre-pandemic levels. June and July are typically the busiest months of the year. While June and July 2025 data is not yet available, this issuance data will likely be shaped by the US government’s temporary suspension of all new student visa appointments, which halted many applications in late May and much of June. This pause may lead to processing bottlenecks,” said Meti Basiri, co-founder and CEO at ApplyBoard.
Experts said that a sharp drop in enrolments pose significant risk to the US universities and study abroad platforms in India. In early July, Moody’s Ratings said that the Trump administration’s restrictions on international students could increase the financial risk for universities that are heavily reliant on their enrolments. Similarly, the stricter regulations and increased scrutiny by the US authorities have jeopardised the business models of study abroad companies.
Though some experts view this drop as a temporary blip. “Today’s students are just being more strategic –looking for institutions that provide strong academic return on investment and global exposure in career-ready ecosystems. The US still has the maximum research output, innovations, and direct partnerships with industry. As the visa policy returns to normal and global mobility starts to increase again, this decline should normalise itself,” said Ritika Gupta, CEO of AAera Consultants, a study abroad platform.
For enrolments in the US academic institutions, international students are required to apply for F-1, M-1 and J-1 visas. While the most popular F-1 visas are issued for pursuing academic studies at accredited US colleges, M-1 visas are for vocational training and J-1 are used for student exchange programmes.