Another Record Low For Indian Students In US Under Trump’s Rule

Article by Kumar Published on: 10:32 pm, 23 October 2026

As expected, the number of Indian student arrivals in the USA on F1 Visa has dropped to the lowest this August since the Covid pandemic in 2020. This is due to the strict immigration policies introduced under Trump 2.0 and also because of increased vetting of documents and non availability of Visa slots for students.

Official numbers show that the arrival of Indian students crashed by 39 percent this August compared to last year. This sharp drop marks the lowest August entry level recorded in the last six years. Thousands of young people who cleared exams and got college admissions are now stuck because they cannot get their entry documents cleared on time.

It is a known fact that the American government has introduced strict background verifications and longer interview processes for student visa applicants. Many candidates are facing unexpected delays or outright rejections during consular appointments. This growing fear of visa denials has scared many families from spending huge money on foreign education.

USA used to be a dream destination for higher studies among Indians. However, the change in immigration rules and job uncertainty have forced thousands of students to rethink about their US plans. Many students are now eyeing domestic universities or looking at alternative countries like Germany, UK or Canada where rules are liberal and encouraging.

If the strict visa screening continues, the golden era of lakhs of students flying to America every year might slow down further in the coming years. Experts suggest that unless immigration policies become flexible, the gap in international student admissions will keep increasing more.

Several education experts also warn that this negative trend will not impact students but also hurt America’s position as the top choice for global higher education.