Overview

• The administration has indefinitely paused student visa interviews at US embassies globally and imposed stricter political screenings on applicants.
• Indian enrollment in US universities is down an estimated 28% in 2025, with consultancies reporting placements falling from over 100 to about 10 students this year.
• Families risking $40,000–$80,000 in annual tuition are deferring applications or redirecting students to the UK, Germany, Ireland, France and the Netherlands.
• Fulbright-Nehru doctoral candidates have been downgraded to “semi-finalists” pending review, prompting widespread anxiety and social media self-censorship.
• A Massachusetts university has withdrawn funding for an incoming Indian PhD student, underscoring institutional challenges under tightened visa rules.