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The Print
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
Indian students among worst hit as US may see international enrolment dip 30% this Fall amid visa crisis
These studies follow the Trump administration's implementation of a series of crackdowns on international visa holders, as well as the introduction of stricter policies and expanded travel restrictions, affecting students and exchange visitors. A report by JB International, analysing the student & exchange visitor information system (SEVIS) as well as the US state department data, estimates a 30–40 percent decline in new international student enrolment this Fall, potentially leading to a 15 percent drop in yearly enrolment. New Delhi : The United States is likely to receive at least 1,50,000 fewer international students this year due to ongoing uncertainties over US visas, with the fallout being 60,000 fewer jobs and a $7 billion revenue loss, according to the preliminary projections by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The report highlights limited or zero appointments for US visas at American consulates in India, China, Nigeria, and Japan by students from those respective nations. Among countries from which international students arrive in the US, India and China are the top two, whereas Nigeria ranks seventh and Japan 13th. The Open Doors Report 2024 confirms 3,31,602 Indian students across US institutes in the 2023-24 academic year, making India the largest source of international students. Indians accounted for 29.4 percent of the total 11,26,690 international students in the US. The latest available US state department data for the February-May period shows Indian students so far received 10,496 F-1 visas for academic purposes—fewer than the 14,068 F-1 visas issued over the same period last year. Indian students who, so far this year, have obtained their US visas are 25.4 percent fewer than those who received visas between February and May last year. Sakshi Mittal, the founder of education consultancy University Leap, said her consultancy is witnessing firsthand how visa delays, reduced appointment slots, and shifting policies are putting aspirations of studying in the US at risk. 'We have had students admitted into Ivy League universities but still waiting for visa appointments,' she said. 'Most universities are not deferring their offers. Students have already rejected offers from top institutions in other countries. They never anticipated the situation would reach this level.' Also Read: 'Honest history, not ideology'—NCERT social science panel chief on changes in Class 8 textbook Reasons behind the drop The NAFSA projection report states that during the peak visa issuance period—27 May to 18 June—this year, student visa interviews were on pause, affecting those who aimed to enrol in one or the other institute this Fall. In the first four months of this year, newly issued F-1 visas dropped 12 percent. Nearly 22 percent fewer F-1 visas have been issued up to May this year compared to last year. 'June 2025 F-1 issuance data has not yet been published, but a decrease of 80–90 percent is possible based on the factors identified here,' the report adds. It further cites 'visa bans' as the key reason for the decline in visas issued. 'Restrictions targeting 19 countries, as per a 4 June 2025, executive order—with another 36 countries rumoured to be added— threaten $3 billion in annual contributions and over 25,000 American jobs,' the report states. Looking ahead to next year's intake, Sakshi Mittal noted growing hesitation among parents and students regarding US education. 'I already see families not wanting to opt for the US, given the uncertainty—not only around visas but also the pressure from the Trump administration to restrict the number of international students. They now prefer alternative destinations,' she said. 'Countries like the UK, Germany, France, and Dubai are gaining momentum. Australia and New Zealand are also introducing positive policies to attract more international students. So, we may see a noticeable shift,' Mittal said. 'While interest in the US remains high, the current sentiment and policies could make it increasingly difficult unless positive reforms are implemented,' she added. Economic Impact According to the NAFSA projection, the drop will also cause a massive economic impact. It states there will be a loss of up to 7 billion US Dollars. The state hosting the most international students, California, alone, is projected to lose over $1 billion in revenue. Similarly, New York may witness a revenue loss of $980 million. Texas is likely to bear an approximate loss of $388 million. Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, said the immediate economic losses projected are just the 'tip of the iceberg'. 'International students drive innovation, advance America's global competitiveness, and create research and academic opportunities in our local colleges that will benefit our country for generations. For the United States to succeed in the global economy, we must keep our doors open to students from around the world,' she said. To mitigate the potentially devastating impact on cities, towns, and educational institutions, NAFSA has urged the US state department to provide expedited visa appointments and process all F-1 and M-1 visas for students, as well as all J-1 visas for exchange visitor applicants. Another recommendation is to exempt F-1 and M-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors from current travel restrictions affecting nationals from 19 countries while still maintaining the necessary background checks and security vetting required for visa issuance. The F-1 visa is for academic students, the M-1 visa is for vocational students, and the J-1 visa is for exchange visitors such as scholars, interns, or students in cultural programmes. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Stalin doubles down on his defiance of NEP with 2-language state education policy—only Tamil & English
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How policy changes in USA may impact student mobility, budgeting decisions, and the overall study-abroad experience
A record number of Indian students, 331,602, enrolled in U.S. institutions in 2023-24, marking a 23% increase. Policy shifts and a new remittance tax in the U.S. are prompting students to explore alternatives like Europe, where Germany and France are gaining popularity. India is also emerging as an education hub, with international universities establishing campuses to retain students. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) As per the Open Doors Report 2024, a record-breaking 331,602 Indian students enrolled in U.S. institutions during the 2023–24 academic year, a strong 23% jump from the previous year. Indian students now represent 29.4% of the international student body in the U.S., the highest share ever. While this growth is encouraging, evolving visa policies and added scrutiny around F-1 visa applications have introduced new steps in the journey for some changes and proposals in U.S. federal policies have added new considerations for international students , including those from India, as they plan their academic futures. For instance, the eligibility period for renewing a visa interview waiver has been reduced from 48 months to 12 months. There have also been discussions around potential changes to the Opt ional Practical Training (OPT) program. Currently, F-1 visa holders can work in the U.S. for up to a year post-graduation, with students in STEM fields receiving an additional two-year extension. This pathway has long been a vital bridge between education and career, helping the U.S. retain skilled global talent. While some of these proposed changes may cause uncertainty, they also highlight the importance of staying informed and making well-researched these shifts, the U.S. continues to be a leading destination for Indian students, thanks to its top-tier universities, strong research ecosystem, and global career prospects. For students and families, the evolving policy environment simply means weighing long-term value alongside short-term logistics more carefully than remittance tax proposal in the US has gone through quite a journey. It started with a 5% tax in the early drafts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was later brought down to 3.5% in the House version, and now the Senate has settled on 1%.This is the first time such a tax is being introduced, and while 1% is still a new cost, it's a big relief compared to what was originally Indian families depend on money sent from the US to cover things like education, medical bills, and household expenses. A 5% tax would've made that support more difficult. Bringing it down to 1% feels more fair, it shows that there's an understanding of how important these remittances are. We've been following this closely, and the new rate feels more reasonable. It shows that policymakers are open to feedback and willing to make changes when needed. With Indian students alone contributing over $17 billion to the US economy every year, decisions like this go a long way in keeping trust strong and relationships positiveOn the other hand, the U.S. government stands to benefit by collecting extra revenue, mostly from non-citizens, without necessarily providing any added services in for most students, this isn't likely to be a deal-breaker. Yes, it's an added cost, but it's also part of a much bigger opportunity. Studying in the U.S. gives access to world-class education, global exposure, and career opportunities that can open many doors. For many, it's a small trade-off for the chance to chase bigger goals and be part of the American US presenting uncertainties, it is obvious for the Indian students to explore alternatives beyond traditional destinations. Europe has emerged as one of the top destinations for international students, driven by its rich cultural heritage, diverse academic offerings, and the continued growth of world-class universities. As per the University Living European report, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, and Malta are fast emerging as welcoming destinations for international data shows that Germany has seen 35 per cent surge in university applications from Indian students, reflecting a growing interest in the country's education France hosted 7,344 Indian students in 2023-24, with numbers expected to grow by 200% by 2030. In 2025, Italy is expected to host 9,186 Indian students, with projections indicating a significant 540% growth by 2030 according to University Living European Student Landscape report, touching an estimated 25,067 Portugal and Malta come as new names that are emerging as international student destinations. For Austria, the number of Indian students was a little over 744 in 2023, but it is estimated to grow at 114% to 1,287 by 2030. Portugal, the number of Indian students was a little over 300 in 2024, but the number of India's student is set to grow steadily, with a projected increase of 71% by 2030 to 597. Malta the number of Indian students to grow by over 350% by 2030, from 279 in 2021 to over 1,278 in global policy shifts in traditional study destinations, India is making significant strides to emerge as a next-gen education powerhouse. The UGC has officially approved five international universities to establish full-fledged campuses in India, including the Illinois Institute of Technology ( USA ), University of Liverpool (UK), Victoria University (Australia), Western Sydney University (Australia), and Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy).These institutions, opening between 2026-27, will offer world-class education right here in top of that, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently announced that 15 foreign universities, particularly in STEM fields, will open branches in India in the current academic initiative aligns with NEP 2020's vision of internationalising education and curbing the outflow of Indian students and dollars for foreign global campuses mean Indian students can access internationally recognised curricula, research facilities, and industry linkages without leaving home.(The author is the Founder and CEO of University Living)
India Today
23-04-2025
- Business
- India Today
Should Indians rethink their study in the US dream?
The last time Aditya Kapoor, 17, slept properly was more than a month ago. These days he is too anxious and utterly confused. A resident of New Delhi, Aditya is supposed to fly to the United States in three months for his undergraduate programme at an Ivy League university. He has no fear of moving to a new place. His worries are different. Like his parents, he, too, is quite concerned about the situation in the US, where ongoing policy shifts, such as changes in tariff and visa regulations, have caused panic among international students, including US is navigating a period of uncertainty for international students, especially those from India, due to recent policy developments. Concerns have grown following reports of sudden visa revocations of over 1,000 international students, including a notable number of Indians. 'Moreover, a proposed bill seeking to eliminate the optional practical training (OPT) programme—the post-study work opportunity—has raised questions about future career pathways for students after graduation,' says Abhijit Zaveri, founder and director, Career Mosaic, a 'study abroad' career guidance, counselling and consulting US is the leading destination of Indian students, notes the Open Doors Report 2024. With a remarkable 35 per cent increase over the previous academic year, Indian students made up a significant share of the over 1.1 million international students enrolled with institutions in the US in 2023-24. This surge not only highlighted the growing ambitions of Indian students, but also saw India surpass China as the largest source of international students in the US. However, by early 2025, there was a noticeable dip in the number of Indian students planning to study abroad, including in the US—the first such decline in five years.'Student numbers may slightly decline in the 2025-26 academic year, largely due to uncertainty around visa policies and post-study work options like OPT,' says Zaveri. 'The US, however, continues to be a top choice for most Indian students, especially for its academic excellence and research-driven environment. If policy clarity improves in the months ahead, student confidence is likely to rebound.'advertisement The most popular programmes with Indian students in the US with high enrolment are mainly STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses, and business management (MBA and Finance) programmes. Liberal arts, public health and economics programmes see smaller but steady enrolment. In the 2023-24 fall intake, approximately 1.1 million international students were enrolled—883,908 in academic programmes, including 196,567 Indian students, and 242,728 OPT participants, among whom were 97,556 Indians. Universities may see a slight dip this year due to the visa and OPT uncertainty, though top-tier STEM and business schools are still seeing strong application is another area of concern for students and their parents: will the cost of education in the US go up due to change in tariffs? While tariffs don't directly affect tuition fees, they can significantly impact the overall cost of education by increasing the operational costs for universities. 'These added expenses often stem from inflation and higher prices on imported goods, such as laboratory equipment, textbooks and technology—resources that are essential for students,' Zaveri explains. 'As institutions face rising procurement costs, they may be forced to reallocate funds away from areas such as faculty salaries, campus development and student support services.'In order to maintain financial stability, some universities might consider raising tuition or introducing additional fees. Many institutions, however, are working to shield students from these pressures and several continue to offer robust scholarships, freeze tuition or expand support services to help students navigate the so much uncertainty and confusion, students are likely to look beyond the US for their study abroad plans. While the UK is another top choice, there are a few other destinations Indian students would be looking at. 'Some countries may see a rise in applications due to students seeking alternative study abroad destinations,' says Zaveri. 'That's not just because of uncertainties in the US policy but also due to the growing appeal of other global education hubs. Countries such as Germany, France and Ireland are gaining attention for their affordable tuition, streamlined immigration policies and growing infrastructure.'The US has faced similar challenges in the past and always bounced back stronger. It remains one of the top destinations for international education due to its world-class universities, cutting-edge research opportunities, diverse campus environments and unmatched global career prospects. 'Moreover, universities and advocacy groups across the US are actively engaging with policymakers to safeguard the interests of international students,' says Zaveri. 'Many institutions continue to offer robust support systems, career services and inclusive learning environments.'advertisementWith timely information and careful planning, Indian students can still pursue their US education dreams with confidence and clarity. For students planning to study in the US soon, it's important to stay well-informed and prepared.A handy checklist of dos and don'ts would help to make the whole process hassle-free. They can start by keeping themselves updated on key visa regulations, including F-1, OPT and H-1B policies, and by applying for visa well in advance with all the necessary documents in order. 'Stay connected with your university's international office for timely updates and support; they're a valuable resource for navigating legal and academic requirements,' says Zaveri. 'Have a backup plan, whether that means exploring other study destinations or alternative academic programmes, just in case circumstances change.'A few nos would be to avoid relying on outdated or unofficial sources of information, as they could be misleading, and to not overlook communication from the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) or delay important steps such as arranging for finances and to India Today Magazineadvertisement
