Suspended Visa Interviews and OPT Cuts Blamed for Student Visa Drop

US Immigration Crackdown Threatens Fall 2025 University Enrolments

In July 2025, immigration data reportedly revealed a significant drop in international student arrivals to the United States, with enrolments from India said to have declined by nearly 46.4% compared to the same month in 2024. Analysts suggested that this downturn in US student visa approvals was an early indicator of reduced new student intake for the Fall 2025 semester. Educators were understood to have attributed the decline to the Trump administration’s restrictive US immigration policy, including the suspension of visa interviews and threats to terminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme.

Preliminary ADIS/I-94 figures released by the U.S. International Trade Administration indicated that international student entries fell by 28.5%, from 106,993 in July 2024 to 76,519 in July 2025. These statistics, compiled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, excluded arrivals from Canada and Mexico but highlighted a broader trend affecting foreign students in the U.S. The timing of this decline was particularly critical, as international students are permitted to enter only within 30 days of their programme’s start date, making July and early August decisive months for enrolment. Universities in the Washington, D.C. region, including Georgetown, George Washington, George Mason, American University, and the University of Maryland, were expected to commence classes in late August, and the drop in arrivals was seen as a direct consequence of delays and disruptions in the US student visa application process. Continuing students were reportedly advised to remain in the country over the summer to avoid complications with reentry, further contributing to the reduced travel figures.

While the overall decline in international arrivals from January to July 2025 stood at 7.7%, experts cautioned that this figure masked the more severe impact on new enrolments. The US visa news landscape has been dominated by reports of travel bans affecting nationals from 19 countries, limited appointment availability, and the temporary suspension of visa interviews, all of which have made it increasingly difficult to apply for a US student visa. Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, was quoted as saying that the United States had long been regarded as the premier destination for global talent. However, she suggested that its reputation was now under threat due to negative rhetoric and inconsistent US visa requirements. She described the July data as deeply troubling and urged the administration to prioritise student visa processing and exempt students from travel bans to prevent further damage.

Additional reports indicated that the State Department had revoked visas and instructed some international students to leave the country over minor infractions, often without due process, actions that have already prompted legal challenges. Joseph Edlow, the newly appointed director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, was said to favour reducing the inflow of international talent. He was reportedly seeking to dismantle the OPT programme and revise the H-1B lottery system in ways that would disadvantage USA international students, particularly those on the F1 visa.

The administration was also understood to have launched investigations into 50 universities and barred Harvard students from entering the country, as part of an ongoing dispute with the institution. In a controversial settlement with Columbia University, federal officials allegedly pressured the university to reassess its financial model and reduce its reliance on international enrolments, raising concerns about the future of American visa application policies in higher education. Research commissioned by the National Foundation for American Policy and conducted by Madeline Zavodny of the University of North Florida projected that, without immigrants and international students, the undergraduate population in the United States would shrink by nearly 5 million by 2037 compared with 2022. Graduate enrolments were also expected to decline by at least 1.1 million, underscoring the economic and academic importance of maintaining a robust pipeline of student visa India applicants and other global talent.

Government statistics further confirmed a sharp drop in arrivals from Asia, with India and China experiencing declines of 46.4% and 25.6%, respectively. Other countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines also recorded substantial decreases, reflecting broader challenges in securing a US student visa from India and neighbouring regions. Fanta Aw reiterated that restrictive policies and uncertainty around US visa requirements were damaging the perception of the United States as a desirable destination for study, research, and entrepreneurship. She warned that the absence of international students would disadvantage American communities and called for urgent reforms to restore confidence in the US student visa system. The July 2025 data was widely interpreted as a troubling sign of waning global confidence in U.S. higher education and its immigration framework.

Editor’s Note

The sharp decline in international student arrivals to the United States in July 2025, as detailed in this report, reflects more than a seasonal dip; it signals a profound shift in global perceptions of American higher education. With enrolments from India plummeting by nearly half and significant drops from other Asian nations, the data suggests that the Trump administration’s immigration policies are having a chilling effect on the country’s ability to attract global talent. Measures such as the suspension of visa interviews, threats to end Optional Practical Training, and the travel ban affecting 19 countries have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and deterrence. These developments not only impact individual students and institutions but also raise broader questions about the future of U.S. academic leadership and its openness to international collaboration. This moment demands careful reflection from policymakers, educators, and the public alike. International students have long been integral to the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of American campuses and communities. Their declining presence risks diminishing the diversity and dynamism that define higher education in the United States. As lawsuits mount and institutions face pressure to reduce reliance on foreign enrolments, the long-term consequences could be severe, both for domestic students who benefit from global exchange and for the U.S. economy, which relies on the innovation and workforce contributions of international graduates.

Skoobuzz underlines that this report should serve as a wake-up call: the erosion of trust and accessibility in U.S. education may take years to rebuild if current trends continue unchecked.