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In the summer of 2025, the number of US student visas dropped by 36% compared to the previous year, according to new data from the US Department of State. Experts attribute this primarily to the unstable visa policy of the presidential administration and the consequences of suspended interviews at consulates. Students from India were hit the hardest — a 62% drop, Nepal — 72%, Nigeria — 52%. In India alone, just over 22,000 F-1 visas were issued during the summer, while in June, interviews were practically not conducted. Other countries — China, South Korea, and Vietnam — also showed declines, but less dramatic.
Experts note that the June freeze on visa interviews hit postgraduate program enrollment hard, since the majority of master's and doctoral students come from these countries. Visa denials and strict screening of applicants even before the interview suspension had already been reducing America's attractiveness for international students — for example, Indian students massively missed the fall enrollment: many sought alternative countries or postponed the start of their studies to January, facing a shortage of visa slots.
Specialists warn that the consequences are not limited to education: the decline in international student numbers affects the U.S. economy and labor market. Presumably, the loss of a third of STEM students could lead to a drop in the country's GDP of $240–481 billion.
The United States is losing its competitive advantage: other countries in Europe and Asia are actively attracting international students, while America still lacks a coordinated strategy for recruitment campaigns at the international level. Therefore, in some cases American scientists are already relocating to Europe due to funding cuts and pressure on academic freedoms.
Overall, the published data indicate that visa flow problems reflect not temporary disruptions, but deeper structural changes in international education in the United States.
