AMERICAN DREAM DETOURED

Visa crackdown triggers 45% plunge in arrivals

- 

The flow of Indian students to U.S. universities has been abruptly disrupted, experiencing a sharp and unprecedented decline tied directly to the current administration's aggressive tightening of immigration rules. Data from August 2025 indicates that the number of student visas issued to Indian nationals has plummeted by approximately 44.5% compared to the previous year, the most significant drop seen among all nations.

This dramatic shift has allowed China to retake its position as the top country of origin for international students in the U.S. While the total number of student visas issued in August fell by nearly a fifth overall, the decline for India underscores the specific impact of new, more restrictive policies that target the pipeline connecting Indian students to American jobs.

$100,000 H-1B barrier

The primary factor driving the exodus of prospective students is the administration’s overhaul of the H-1B skilled worker visa program, which for decades served as the essential pathway for Indian graduates to transition from Optional Practical Training (OPT) to long-term employment in the U.S. technology sector.