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1h ago

U.S. Student-Visa Arrivals Drop 28% in July as India and China Lead Decline

Tighter vetting following an interview pause has fueled backlogs that threaten fall enrollment.

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Total arrivals on student visas fell for the fourth straight month in July 2025, declining 28% to just under 79,000. (representational image)
Mudd Hall on the Campus of the University of Southern California on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Los Angeles.
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Overview

  • International Trade Administration data show total student-visa arrivals fell to just under 79,000 in July, the fourth straight monthly decline and the steepest drop of 2025.
  • Arrivals from India fell about 46% and from China about 26%, underscoring a sharp pullback from the two largest source countries.
  • The State Department paused student-visa interviews in late May and resumed in mid-June with social-media reviews, which universities and advocates say have produced consular delays and uncertainty.
  • Universities warn first-time international enrollment could drop around 30% this autumn, risking about $2.6 billion in tuition, with USC reporting a $200 million deficit and ASU’s president calling visa delays more disruptive than the pandemic.
  • The arrival figures do not distinguish new from returning students, and advocacy groups say some current visa-holders are avoiding travel during heightened scrutiny.