China Gets More Than Double the Number of Indian Students’ Visas

With the Trump administration tightening immigration policies and increasing scrutiny over visa issuance, the number of Indian student visas to the United States plunged by more than 44 percent in August, marking the steepest drop among all nations.

According to official data, the US issued nearly one fifth fewer student visas in August following Trump’s tough immigration rules. The sharp decline indicates a major shift in global student mobility trends, with China surpassing India in the number of students seeking US education.

Interestingly, Trump recently expressed hope of increasing the number of Chinese students to strengthen ties between the two countries, which stands in contrast to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s vow to revoke visas from certain Chinese students accused of exploiting US technical knowledge.

The International Trade Commission reported that the US issued around 313,138 student visas in August, a 19.1 percent decline compared to the same month last year. Although visa issuance for Chinese students also dropped, it was nowhere near as steep as India’s fall.

India, which had been a leading source of international students to the US last year, saw a sharp 44.5 percent decline in visa issuance in 2025. In contrast, China received 86,647 visas, more than double the number issued to Indian applicants, highlighting a significant geopolitical and educational shift.

In June, during the peak visa processing period, Marco Rubio temporarily suspended student visa processing and directed US embassies to conduct stricter social media vetting for applicants. He also ordered the revocation of thousands of existing student visas.

Additionally, Trump imposed a heavy fee on H1B visas, a route widely used by Indian technology professionals, aiming to preserve employment opportunities for American citizens.