US Granted 62% Fewer Student Visas To Indians During Peak 2025 Season; Chinese Students Also Saw Decline

Published 6 August 2026 · india

News world US Granted 62% Fewer Student Visas To Indians During Peak 2025 Season; Chinese Students Also Saw Decline US Granted 62% Fewer Student Visas

News world US Granted 62% Fewer Student Visas To Indians During Peak 2025 Season; Chinese Students Also Saw Decline US Granted 62% Fewer Student Visas To Indians During Peak 2025 Season; Chinese Students Also Saw Decline Published By, Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 07:01 IST A report citing has suggested that F-1 student visas issued to Indian nationals fell 62% during the 2025 peak processing season, while visas for Chinese students declined 34%. A report citing the Center for Immigration Studies says F-1 student visas issued to Indian and Chinese nationals fell significantly during the May-August 2025 processing period. (AFP photo) Indian and Chinese nationals received significantly fewer F-1 student visas during the peak 2025 visa processing season, according to a report by Times Now, citing findings from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS). The report said the decline could have implications for US university enrolment, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme and the future international workforce. Citing the Center for Immigration Studies, the report said US consulates issued 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025. According to the report, this marked a 62 per cent decline compared with the 58,694 visas issued during the same period in 2024.

It was also 60 per cent lower than the average of 55,717 visas issued during the corresponding May-August periods across 2017-19 and 2021-24. The report noted that the May-August period is closely watched because most student visas are issued before the start of the academic year, making it a key indicator of international student enrolment trends. Chinese Students Also See Significant Drop The report, citing CIS data, said 40,034 F-1 visas were issued to Chinese nationals during the same four-month period in 2025. This represented a 34 per cent decline from the 61,075 visas issued during May-August 2024 and was 46 per cent below the average recorded during the corresponding periods between 2017-19 and 2021-24. According to the report, the decline in visa issuance for both India and China is being closely monitored by universities and prospective international students ahead of the academic year. Report Flags Possible Impact On Enrolment And OPT Quoting the Center for Immigration Studies, the report said the decline in student visas could affect US university enrolment, the number of international graduates entering the American workforce and the broader policy debate over security risks involving students in sensitive fields.