US Student Visa Issuances to Indian and Chinese Nationals Plummet in 2025
A Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) report shows that the United States issued far fewer F‑1 student visas to Indian and Chinese nationals during the peak May‑August 2025 period. The government granted only 22,149 visas to Indian applicants, a 60 % drop from the 2017‑19 and 2021‑24 average of 55,717 and a 62 % decline from the 58,694 visas issued in the same months of 2024. Chinese applicants received 40,034 visas, down 46 % from the multi‑year average of 73,853 and 34 % below the 61,075 visas issued in 2024.
India and China together accounted for roughly 53 % of the 1.18 million foreign students enrolled in U.S. post‑secondary institutions in the 2024‑25 academic year. The report warns that the sharp decline could restrict the pipeline of graduates entering the U.S. Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, especially in STEM fields, and argues the trend may "greatly benefit American students and national security."
Entities: Center for Immigration Studies · China · George Fishman · India · U.S. Department of State · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The 40,034 visas represent a 46 % decline from the 2017‑19 and 2021‑24 average of 73,853. (CIS report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The CIS report was authored by former congressional counsel George Fishman. (CIS report)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The 22,149 visas represent a 60 % decline from the 2017‑19 and 2021‑24 average of 55,717. (CIS report)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Indian and Chinese students together accounted for 53 % of the 1.18 million foreign students enrolled in U.S. post‑secondary institutions in the 2024‑25 academic year. (Institute of International Education data cited by CIS)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The decline may restrict the pipeline of foreign graduates entering the U.S. Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, especially in STEM fields. (CIS report analysis)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The United States issued 22,149 F‑1 visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025. (CIS report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The CIS report argues that the visa decline could greatly benefit American students and U.S. national security. (CIS report author George Fishman)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The United States issued 40,034 F‑1 visas to Chinese nationals between May and August 2025. (CIS report)