Overview

• F-1 visa issuances to Indian students fell 27% to 9,906 between March and May 2025, marking the lowest level for that period since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The State Department paused new student visa applications from May 27 to June 18 for enhanced social media screening that requires applicants to make their accounts public.
• Embassy posts have resumed scheduling F-1 visa interviews under tightened security protocols; applicants should anticipate extended processing times.
• Visa revocations linked to protests or law enforcement interactions have spawned multiple lawsuits challenging the administration’s actions.
• Indians had become the largest group of international students in US universities in 2023–24; the recent visa slump risks straining enrollment plans and funding for American institutions.