President Donald Trump has made big changes to how the U.S. handles immigration after winning for a second term. He’s signed new orders and changed several rules, making the system tougher. With this stricter approach, many Indian students are facing delays, and fewer visas are getting approved than usual.
In fact, between March and May this year, the number of F-1 visas given to Indian students has dropped sharply — the lowest it’s been during these months since the COVID days. According to the latest U.S. State Department data, it is 27% less than the last year with 9,906 F-1 visas issues to the Indian students.
In response to the drop in student visa approvals, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson told The Indian Express that adjudication visa applications is a key part of ensuring U.S. national security and public safety. “We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and to anticipate additional processing time for these visa categories. Our overseas posts have resumed scheduling F non-immigrant visa applications. Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability,” said the spokesperson.
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“Consular sections constantly adjust their schedules to allow for sufficient time to fully vet the cases to ensure our visa operations around the world meet the highest standards,” the U.S. Embassy spokesperson added.
This time of year (from March to July) is usually crunching time for student visas, as most international students aim to start classes in the fall semester around August or September. But this year, things are far from smooth. The sharp drop in visa approvals comes just as the Trump administration is tightening its grip on international students. Several student visas have reportedly been cancelled including for some Indian applicants, allegedly due to their involvement in pro-Palestine protests or run-ins with the police.
U.S. had paused new visa applications for about two weeks — from May 27 to June 18 — to roll out stricter background checks, including digging into students’ social media activity.
In May, the administration also told embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new student visa interviews, making social media screening mandatory.
Later in June, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi publicly urged student visa applicants —specifically those applying under the F, M, and J categories — to keep their social media profiles public to help speed up the screening process. This came after new, stricter vetting policies were introduced, where social media activity is now a key part of background checks.
The overall numbers this year reflect the impact. According to U.S. State Department data, only 64,008 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students between January and September 2024 —a sharp decline from over 103,000 in 2023 and 93,181 in 2022.
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This drop not only signals a slowdown in the visa process but also raises concerns for universities in the U.S. that rely heavily on Indian students, who make up one of the largest international student populations. With more red tape, delays, and uncertainty, many students are now facing serious disruptions to their study plans, leaving both students and colleges scrambling for clarity.