Fewer Indian students heading to US under Trump:First immigration decline in 65 years; visas rise for Pakistan and Bangladesh

The biggest impact of the Trump government’s strict immigration policy in America is visible on Indian students. In 2025, the number of F-1 student visas issued to Indian applicants has fallen sharply, while students from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam have received more visas than in previous years. The stricter policies have also affected overall immigration to the United States. According to a Washington Post report, the number of immigrants living in the US fell from a record 53.3 million in January 2025 to 51.9 million by June. It marks the first decline in the country’s immigrant population since the 1960s. US Visas granted to Indian students decreased by 62% According to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), between May and August 2025, Indian students received only 22,149 F-1 student visas. During the same period last year, this number was 58,694. This means that Indian students’ visas decreased by 62% in one year. The number of F-1 visas issued to Chinese students also decreased. Between May and August 2025, 40,034 Chinese students received F-1 visas, compared to 61,075 during the same period in 2024. While students from India and China received fewer F-1 visas, the number of students from several other Asian countries increased. In the first half of fiscal year 2025, Vietnamese students received 5,324 F-1 visas, which is 19.6% more than last year. During the same period, Bangladeshi students received 2,098 F-1 visas, an increase of 20.1%. Pakistani students received 1,928 visas, which is 44.3% more. Trump administration screened social media of visa applicants A major reason for this decline in visas was the new rules of the Trump administration. For example- Indian students are turning to Europe instead of America Many Indian students are now turning to Europe. Countries like Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands are becoming the new favorites for Indian students. The reasons for this are lower fees, easier visa processes, and better job opportunities after studies. According to Reuters, the fees of many European universities are 50% to 80% lower than American universities. Between 2015 and 2023, the number of Indian students going to Europe increased by 45%, while admissions of Indian students in Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland increased by 68%. Meanwhile, some Indian professionals are also starting to return to India or move to other countries amidst increasing uncertainty regarding visa rules and jobs. India still leads in H-1B visas Despite a decline in student visas, India’s hold on H-1B work visas for employment remains the strongest. In 2024, 71% of the issued H-1B visas went to Indians. China ranked second, while the share of the Philippines, Canada, and South Korea was approximately 1% each. This means student visas have decreased, but the demand for Indian professionals for jobs is still the highest. America is still the largest immigrant country Despite strict rules and a decline in visas, America remains the world’s largest immigrant country. Opportunities for better education, jobs, and earnings still attract millions of people to America today. According to available data for 2023, the US has the most immigrants (11 million) from Mexico. This is followed by India (3.2 million), China (3 million), the Philippines (2.1 million), and Cuba (1.7 million). According to the Pew Research Center, 52% of the total immigrants living in America are from Latin America and 27% are from Asia. This means that Asian countries have a large share in America’s immigrant population. In such a situation, changes in visa rules have the biggest impact on India, China, and other Asian countries. Number of foreign tourists in America also decreased The number of foreign tourists visiting America has also decreased. In 2025, about 6.83 crore foreign tourists arrived in America, whereas in 2024, this figure was 7.23 crore. Tourist spending also decreased by more than 8 billion dollars. The biggest drop was in tourists coming from Canada. The number of tourists coming from India, Germany, France, Australia, and China also decreased, while tourists coming from Mexico increased. This means that the Trump government’s strictness is clearly visible not only on student visas but also on immigration and foreign tourism. ​