The great American dream of Indian students is hitting a visa-shaped roadblock. According to Forbes, fresh immigration data reveals that Indian student arrivals
to the U.S. fell nearly 50% in July 2025, compared to the same month last year. That’s a dramatic pause in what has long been the world’s fastest-growing pipeline of international students.
What the numbers say
- July 2024 vs July 2025: Indian student arrivals in the US fell 46% YoY from 24,298 (Jul 2024) to 13,027 (Jul 2025)
- This was the steepest decline of all major countries and overall international student arrivals fell 28% in Jul
- Fall 2025 intake: For Fall 2025 intake, fresh enrollments may drop 30–40%; could lead to $7 bn revenue loss for US universities
What’s behind the decline?
- Visa chaos: Suspended interviews, long appointment delays, rising rejection rates.
- Policy uncertainty: Reports of visa revocations and the looming threat of changes to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
- Geopolitical overhang: Experts say the Trump administration’s protectionist tilt is fueling anxiety among foreign students.
Why this matters
For India, which sends the largest pool of international students to the U.S., the sharp pullback could signal a rethink: is the American degree worth the uncertainty?
For U.S. universities, the hit is even more painful. International students contribute billions in tuition fees. Consultants warn of a $1 billion revenue hit this year alone.
A turning point?
The U.S. has always marketed itself as the “land of opportunity.” But with visa hurdles, political rhetoric, and rising costs, that promise feels shaky. Indian students may now look harder at alternatives—Canada, Australia, even homegrown institutions. The real risk? America’s decades-long soft power built on welcoming global talent could slowly erode.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Trump administration is proposing to limit the duration of visas for foreign students and media personnel in the US. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a press release on Wednesday said that if finalised, the proposed rule would limit the length of time certain visa holders including foreign students are allowed to stay in the United States.
Since 1978, foreign students (F visa holders) have been admitted into the US for an unspecified period known as duration of status. Unlike other visas issued, those with a duration of status designation are allowed to remain in the US for an indefinite amount of time without further screening and vetting, the DHS said.
The Trump administration said that foreign students have taken advantage of the US generosity and have become forever students, perpetually enrolled in higher education courses to remain in the country.
For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging US citizens, a DHS spokesperson said.
This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the US, the spokesperson added.
The move comes amid a strain in ties between the US and India following the Trump administration imposing 50 per cent tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil, which came into effect from Wednesday.
