US Student Visa Issuances to Indian and Chinese Nationals Plummet in 2025

US student visas Indian nationals Chinese nationals CIS report OPT workforce

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 many sources carry each claim.

[DISPUTED] The 40,034 visas represent a 46 % decline from the 2017‑19 and 2021‑24 average of 73,853. www.edexlive.com · www.latestly.com · www.news9live.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net
[○ 1 SOURCE] The CIS report was authored by former congressional counsel George Fishman. www.ntd.com
[DISPUTED] The 22,149 visas represent a 60 % decline from the 2017‑19 and 2021‑24 average of 55,717. www.edexlive.com · www.latestly.com · www.news9live.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net
[DISPUTED] 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. www.edexlive.com · www.latestly.com · www.news9live.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net
[● 4 SOURCES] The decline may restrict the pipeline of foreign graduates entering the U.S. Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, especially in STEM fields. www.edexlive.com · www.news9live.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net
[● 5 SOURCES] The United States issued 22,149 F‑1 visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025. www.edexlive.com · www.latestly.com · www.news9live.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net
[● 4 SOURCES] The CIS report argues that the visa decline could greatly benefit American students and U.S. national security. www.edexlive.com · www.scmp.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net
[● 5 SOURCES] The United States issued 40,034 F‑1 visas to Chinese nationals between May and August 2025. www.edexlive.com · www.latestly.com · www.news9live.com · www.ntd.com · weeklyblitz.net

Sources

Chinese media slams US think tank after it hails 46% drop in China student visas [www.scmp.com]

about 2 months ago

CIS: US student visas decline for Indian, Chinese nationals [www.edexlive.com]

about 2 months ago

US Student Visas for Indian and Chinese Nationals Drop Sharply, Report Finds [www.ntd.com]

about 2 months ago

US issues just 22,149 F-1 visas to Indians in key admission months: Report [www.news9live.com]

about 2 months ago

US student visa decline raises questions over security and academic competitiveness - BLiTZ [weeklyblitz.net]

about 2 months ago

World News | US Student Visas to Indian, Chinese Nationals See Sharp Decline in 2025, Says CIS Report | LatestLY [www.latestly.com]

about 2 months ago

Dramatic decline in visas issued to Chinese and Indian students under Trump [www.washingtonexaminer.com]

about 2 months ago