Indian student visas to US drop 62% in 2025
US student visas for Indians dropped 62% in 2025 as a CIS report urged ending the OPT programme, citing impacts on American jobs and wages.
- US authorities issued 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025, down from 58,694 during the same period in 2024.
- The 62 per cent decline for Indians was significantly sharper than the 34 per cent fall recorded for Chinese applicants.
- India still had the largest international student population in the US during 2024–25, with 363,019 students.
- Indian and Chinese students together accounted for 53 per cent of all foreign students in American post-secondary institutions.
- OPT allows eligible F-1 students to work temporarily in jobs connected with their academic field after graduation.
- STEM graduates may receive up to three years of post-study work authorisation under the OPT system.
- Indian nationals represented about 49 per cent of OPT participants in 2024–25, making them the programme’s largest group.
- The CIS wants OPT abolished, arguing that it harms American workers and weakens job opportunities for US graduates.
- Other researchers dispute that claim and say OPT helps American companies address shortages in highly skilled fields.
- Any decision to restrict or end OPT could influence where Indian students choose to study in the future.
- The controversy highlights a growing tension between protecting domestic jobs and attracting international talent.
- For Indian applicants, American education is becoming not only an academic choice but also a calculation involving visa security, affordability and post-graduation opportunities. US student visas for Indians plunge
The number of US student visas issued to Indian nationals fell sharply in 2025, creating fresh uncertainty for thousands of young people who had hoped to study, work and build their early careers in America. According to data analysed by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), US authorities issued 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indians between May and August 2025, compared with 58,694 during the same period in 2024—a decline of 62 per cent.
The fall is particularly significant because the May–August period is normally the busiest time for student visa approvals, as universities prepare for the new academic year. The decline therefore does not represent a minor seasonal change. For Indian students and their families, it may signal a much tougher admissions journey, involving longer waits, greater scrutiny and a higher risk of missing the start of an academic programme.
Chinese students also faced a major decline, although the fall was less severe. The number of F-1 visas issued to Chinese nationals dropped from 61,075 in 2024 to 40,034 in 2025, a reduction of 34 per cent. The contrasting figures show that Indian applicants experienced almost twice the decline recorded among Chinese students.
The figures have emerged amid stricter immigration policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. Applicants for F-1 visas have faced increased attention to their backgrounds, intentions and future plans. Students who once viewed the United States as a relatively predictable destination for higher education may now be thinking twice, especially when tuition fees, living costs and currency pressures are already placing a heavy burden on Indian households.
The irony is that India remained the largest source of international students in the United States during the 2024–25 academic year. According to the annual Open Doors census, 363,019 Indian students were present in American post-secondary institutions, compared with 265,919 students from China. Together, the two groups represented 53 per cent of all international students in the country, whose total number stood at 1,177,766.
For many Indian students, studying in the US has never been only about obtaining a degree. It is also a pathway to professional experience, financial independence and the possibility of repaying substantial education loans. The prospect of working for a limited period after graduation often forms an important part of the decision to choose an American university over institutions in other countries.
That pathway is now at the centre of a political dispute. The CIS report has called for the abolition of the Optional Practical Training programme, commonly known as OPT. The programme allows eligible international students holding F-1 visas to work temporarily in jobs related to their field of study after completing their courses. Students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can generally receive an extended period of work authorisation, allowing a total of up to three years.
The report argues that OPT disadvantages American graduates by allowing companies to employ foreign students under conditions that may reduce labour costs. It says the programme hurts American workers and should be ended. Supporters of the proposal believe that American students should receive priority in the job market, particularly at a time when many graduates are struggling to find secure, well-paid employment.
However, the debate is not one-sided. Research cited by Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology says there is no evidence that OPT participants reduce job opportunities for US workers. It also argues that international graduates help fill shortages in specialised industries, strengthen innovation and contribute to the American economy.
The issue is especially important for Indian students because they form the largest group among OPT participants. During 2024–25, approximately 294,253 international students were working in the US through OPT. Of these, 143,740—or about 49 per cent—were from India, while 61,981, or 21 per cent, were from China.
If OPT is scrapped, the impact would be felt far beyond university campuses. Indian students could lose the opportunity to gain American work experience after graduation, while US companies could find it harder to recruit trained workers in sectors such as software, engineering, healthcare and data science. At the same time, American policymakers would need to address legitimate concerns about wages, labour protections and employment opportunities for domestic graduates.
For Indian families, the immediate message is clear: the US remains a major education destination, but the route is becoming more uncertain. A student may now have to consider not only the quality of the university, but also visa approval, post-study work rules and the broader direction of American immigration policy.