The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has acknowledged that a number of Indian students in the United States have received notices from the U.S. government about their F-1 visa status. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a press conference in New Delhi, stating that the Indian embassy and consulates are actively engaged with the affected students.
“We are aware that several Indian students have received communication from the US government regarding their F-1 visa status. We are looking into the matter. Our Embassy and consulate are in touch with the students,” said Jaiswal.
The situation has sparked legal action from some international students. Chinmay Deore, an Indian student in the U.S., joined three other foreign nationals in filing a lawsuit on Friday against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration officials. The lawsuit, reported by PTI, claims that their immigration status was unfairly and unlawfully terminated.
Deore filed the case alongside Xiangyun Bu and Qiuyi Yang from China and Yogesh Joshi from Nepal. All four are students at public universities in Michigan. According to their legal petition, their student status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was terminated without proper notice or explanation. The lawsuit emphasizes that this termination was both abrupt and illegal, putting them at risk of deportation despite having valid student credentials.
The impact of these federal actions has been significant, placing hundreds of international students in a precarious legal position. According to an investigation by the Associated Press that reviewed statements from universities and officials, at least 901 students from 128 educational institutions have seen their visas revoked or their immigration status terminated since mid-March. These institutions include a mix of prestigious private universities like Harvard and Stanford, major public schools such as the University of Maryland and Ohio State University, and smaller liberal arts colleges.
In one notable case, a U.S. federal judge intervened to temporarily halt the deportation of Krish Lal Isserdasani, a 21-year-old Indian undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Isserdasani, who has held an F-1 visa since 2021, is in his final semester pursuing a degree in computer engineering.
According to court filings, “having maintained full-time enrollment and good academic standing, Isserdasani is now in the final semester of his senior year with less than 30 days remaining until an expected graduation on May 10, 2025.” The documents also noted that Isserdasani received no prior communication from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, his university, or the State Department about any changes to his visa status. His deportation, if carried out, would have prevented him from completing his degree and applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a post-study work program permitted under the F-1 visa rules.
The growing number of deportations is concerning. Since January, the United States has deported 682 Indians. Although many of these individuals entered the country unlawfully, there has also been a noticeable trend of student visa revocations. Some of these revocations are reportedly linked to student involvement in political protests, particularly those related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In many cases, students were informed via email by their school’s Designated School Officials (DSOs) that their records in SEVIS had been terminated. This cancellation invalidated their Form I-20, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and legal student status in the U.S. The reasons cited for visa revocation ranged from relatively minor infractions like traffic violations—including speeding, driving without a licensed supervisor while on a learner’s permit, and failing to stop at a red light—to more serious but previously resolved issues such as shoplifting and alcohol-related offenses.
There have also been instances where students opted to self-deport after losing their visa status. One such case involves Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian scholar who left the U.S. in March 2025. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Srinivasan self-deported after participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University.
Another high-profile incident involved Badar Khan Suri, an Indian researcher in conflict studies at Georgetown University. He was detained on March 17 following allegations of antisemitic speech and alleged links to Hamas. Suri, however, refuted the accusations and claimed he was being targeted due to his wife’s Palestinian heritage. He is currently being held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana.
The U.S. government has recently intensified its scrutiny of international students, especially those involved in campus activism. The Department of State (DOS) has been asking students to self-deport, citing concerns over their political engagement. The crackdown is partly driven by social media reviews conducted by the DOS, which now extend to new visa applicants as well.
Even individuals applying for F (academic study), M (vocational training), or J (exchange visitor) visas may be affected by this social media screening. Based on their online activity, applicants can be denied a visa or asked to leave the country.
Understanding the student visa process is key to grasping the implications of these developments. To obtain a U.S. student visa—commonly an F-1 visa—students must first gain admission to a recognized school or university in the country. Following that, they must undergo an application and interview process at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
A major requirement for the F-1 visa is proof of adequate financial support to cover the costs of education and living expenses. While enrolled, students must maintain full-time academic status and typically face restrictions on off-campus employment. Although the State Department manages entry visas, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, under the DHS, oversees the students’ legal status after they arrive in the U.S.
The current wave of visa revocations, student lawsuits, and legal interventions underscores a growing unease among international students in the United States. As the U.S. tightens its immigration oversight—especially for those participating in political expression—the future remains uncertain for hundreds of students caught in the crossfire of policy enforcement and academic aspiration.