The issuance of student visas to Indian nationals for studying in the United States experienced a notable 27 percent decline between March and May this year, representing the slowest start to the visa season since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest statistics from the U.S. State Department reveal that 9,906 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students during the referenced period. This marks a significant decrease from the 13,478 visas granted in the same months the previous year, and an even lower figure than the 10,894 visas issued in 2022, when international travel had only recently resumed.
The months from March to May typically witness a surge in visa processing as students gear up for the Fall semester, which generally commences in August or September. However, this year’s downturn coincides with a renewed immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, characterized by the introduction of more rigorous screening procedures for international students.
In late May, the U.S. State Department issued a directive halting new interview scheduling for F, M, and J visa applicants. This suspension of appointments, which lasted from May 27 to June 18, was a global measure as embassies were instructed to adhere to the newly implemented protocols.
The directive, endorsed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sought to enforce mandatory social media scrutiny. Visa applicants were required to disclose their social media profiles from the preceding five years, a mandate that has stirred concerns among prospective students about processing delays and potential backlogs.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued public advisories urging Indian visa applicants to comply with these new conditions. Meanwhile, the policy adjustments have led to visa cancellations across at least 32 states in the U.S. Reports indicate that some of these cancellations involved Indian students and were associated with involvement in pro-Palestinian protests or previous legal infractions, such as DUIs, although in several cases, the reasons for cancellation were not explicitly communicated.
In response to the augmented scrutiny, many students have taken proactive measures to sanitize their digital footprints. This includes removing sensitive posts, unfollowing accounts, and tightening privacy settings in an effort to mitigate the risk of visa rejection under the expanded vetting processes.
Despite the current slowdown, Indian students continue to represent the largest cohort of international students in the United States. According to Open Doors 2024, Indian students overtook their Chinese counterparts during the 2023–2024 academic year, becoming the top contributors to the foreign student population.
Nevertheless, the overall trend for 2024 has been one of decline. From January to September of the previous year, Indian students were granted 64,008 F-1 visas, a decrease from 103,000 in 2023 and 93,181 in 2022.
Source: Original article