US visa approvals for Indian students fell by 62 percent during the 2025 peak admissions season, dropping from 58,694 to 22,149 between May and August. This decline is significantly steeper than the 34 percent reduction seen among Chinese applicants, whose approvals decreased from 61,075 to 40,034. Current figures for Indian students are roughly 60 percent below the historical average recorded from 2017 to 2024.
Despite the downturn, India remains the top source of international students in the US, with 363,019 enrollments for the 2024-25 academic year. Indian nationals also lead participation in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, comprising nearly half of the 294,253 graduates currently working under the scheme, and holding 79,331 of the 165,524 STEM OPT extensions granted in 2024.
The decline follows stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration, including a rule effective September 15 that replaces "duration of status" with fixed admission periods. This policy limits most F-1 visa holders to a four-year stay and cuts the post-graduation grace period from 60 to 30 days. Potential future restrictions on the OPT program could create further hurdles for Indian graduates seeking employment in the United States.
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