Only 9,906 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students between March and May 2025, a 27% drop from last year.

The decline is linked to President Trump’s stricter immigration policies and increased scrutiny of social media accounts.

Visa delays, interview backlogs, and tighter checks have made it harder for students. Despite the dip, Indians still form the largest group of international students in the U.S., with over 1 lakh visas issued in 2023.

Recent revocations and a temporary hold on new interviews highlight the administration’s push for deeper background checks, including mandatory disclosure of five years of social media activity.