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2026-08-05 17:01 UTC → 2026-08-06 18:32 UTC ·
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A The Center for Immigration Studies report showed confirmed that U.S. F‑1 student visas issued to Indian and Chinese nationals fell sharply in dramatically during the May‑August 2025 period, peak, with a 60% only 22,149 Indian visas issued—a 60 % drop for India from the 2017‑19/2021‑24 average and a 46% drop for China. The 62 % decline follows tighter immigration oversight introduced under from 2024 – and 40,034 Chinese visas, down 46 % from the previous administration. Subsequent analysis highlighted multi‑year average and 34 % below the broader impact 2024 level. Together, India and China still represent roughly 53 % of the new visa rules on 1.18 million foreign students enrolled in U.S. post‑secondary institutions for the 2024‑25 academic year. Analysts warn the shortfall could choke the pipeline of Optional Practical Training (OPT) graduates, especially in STEM fields, and argue the trend may “greatly benefit American higher‑education institutions. students and national security.” Fitch Ratings warned projected that reduced the new immigration rules will shrink international enrollment could cut tuition revenue, especially at colleges enrollment, which fell 17 % in the fall 2025 semester and contributed to a 1 % overall decline in foreign‑student numbers. Colleges that rely heavily depend on foreign students for graduate 10‑15 % or more of their enrollment face heightened tuition‑revenue risk, prompting many to broaden recruitment beyond traditional source countries and STEM programs. cut costs. The policy also suspended suspension of visa processing for 75 countries, disproportionately affecting countries—largely in Africa and the Caribbean—disproportionately affects Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which depend on jeopardizing international students and faculty. Institutions are responding by diversifying recruitment and cutting costs. Together, the data faculty, research programs, and commentary trace the progression from a sharp drop in visas for two major source countries to wider financial and academic challenges across U.S. colleges and universities. pipeline of Black professionals trained at these institutions.