US student visa slide hits India hard

Pakistan & Bangladesh buck the trend, record high growth

- MANU KAUSHIK

The number of student visas issued by the US government fell 15% globally to 89,000 in the first half of fiscal year 2025 (October-March), with India witnessing a steep 43.5% drop in fresh visas compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the US Department of State. China, the US's second-largest source market, also recorded a significant decline of 24.1%, with just over 11,100 F-1 visas issued during the period.

The decline in visa issuance is attributed largely to lower international student enrollments in US universities. Factors include growing caution among students due to policy uncertainty under the Trump administration, potential cuts in federal funding, and a generally stricter US immigration stance.