Student visa rejections for Indian students planning to study in the United States has reached a decade-high in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with 41% of F-1 visas being rejected. This is nearly double the rate of rejection in 2014, according to a recent report by Indian Express.
In fiscal year 2014, a total of 595,000 F-1 visas were approved with 173,000 rejections. By 2023, approvals dropped to 445,000, while rejections rose to 253,000, according to data from the U.S. Department of State.
The number of visa applications steadily decreased after 2014-15, hitting a low of 162,000 during the year 2019-2020 when COVID-19 hit and traveling was restricted. While the number of applications began to rise post-Covid, there was a 3% dip in 2023-2024, falling from 699,000 in 2022-2023 to 679,000 in 2023-2024.
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As a result, 279,000 visa denials in the last fiscal year represent the highest rejection rate in a decade. A total of 401,000 F-1 visas were issued in 2023-2024, down from 445,000 the previous year.
The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant student visa for individuals who wish to study in the U.S. at a school, college, or seminary. Unlike the M-1 visa for vocational students, the F-1 visa is for academic students. The visa is valid for the duration of the academic program plus an extra 60 days. While F-1 visa holders can work, their options are limited. The visa-holder’s spouse and children can accompany them; however, they cannot work.
President Donald Trump has held a hardline stance on migration, cracking down on H-1B visa holders. However, the rise in F-1 visa rejections did not start with him, rather it began with the Biden administration. Similar reduction of the intake of international students can be seen in other countries like UK and Canada as well.