For Indian students dreaming of studying in the US, the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term (Trump 2.0) has been nothing short of a shock. According to statistics, enrollment of Indian students in American universities dropped by about 75% in the first year. This decline is believed to be the first time in decades that it has been so heavy. The main reason for this was the increase in visa rejection incidents, severe shortage of interview slots and fear in the minds of students.
Data from Study Abroad Consultants shows that the month between August and October, when the largest number of students typically travel to the U.S., has dropped by about 70%. The main reason for this is not being able to get visa interview slots on time, due to which many students had to postpone their plans at the last moment. Only those students who had completed their entire application process by February or March were eligible to travel to the US.
Arvind Manduwa of i20 Fever, a Hyderabad-based consultancy, says this is the first time such a big drop has been seen. He says stricter visa scrutiny has led to higher rejection rates and limited slots further disheartening students. As a result, students are reluctant to apply to even the top 40 US institutions.
Many students postponed their admissions until the spring semester (January-March), hoping that the situation would improve, but it did not. Visa slots remained limited during this period, and scrutiny increased. Even social media activity was made a part of visa verification, adding to students’ concerns.
The situation was even more difficult for Indian students already studying in America. About 8,000 student visas were revoked by December 2025, according to data from the US State Department. Many students suddenly receive emails that their F-1 visa status has been revoked and that they will have to leave the country within a few weeks. What was most alarming was that in many cases, visa rejections were due to old and settled cases. The 25-year-old student, who has a master’s in project management from Boston, said that in 2024, he received a citation for speeding, with no charges filed. Despite this, his SEVIS clearance was revoked, which could later be reinstated with the help of a lawyer.
The pressure was not limited to students. The H-1B visa program also became a focus of political debate. Proposals to impose fees of up to $100,000 and limit the program scared both companies and professionals. About 72% of H-1B visa recipients are Indians, most of whom are associated with the IT sector.
According to State Department figures, nearly 100,000 visas of various categories were rejected in the last 12 months, a large number of which were of Indians. In 2025, about 3,800 people were deported, the highest number in decades. Among them, the number of Indian nationals was the highest.
Meanwhile, the US job market also collapsed. Many companies postponed onboarding, halted visa transfers, and in some cases, even canceled job offers. 27-year-old Saif H., an MBA graduate from Texas. says that even after clearing the interview, his offer was later rejected.
Social media monitoring has become another source of stress. Under the new rules, H-1B workers and H-4 dependents are warned to keep their social media accounts public to facilitate visa checks. Anti-American posts or critical content were threatened with visa cancellation or deportation. In addition, Homeland Security also ended automatic extensions for work permits, forcing individuals to stop working if they failed to renew on time.
Amidst these circumstances, the number of distress calls received by Indian embassies has increased exponentially. Immigration advocates believe the uncertainty is far from over. Even those who have been living in America for a long time are now rethinking their future. “We pay taxes and contribute to the system, but we have never felt so insecure,” says Aziz Nooruddin, who has lived in the US for the past 20 years.
In the first year of Trump 2.0, stricter visa policies, increased scrutiny, a sluggish job market and fear of deportation have made the US a less safe and attractive option for Indian students and professionals than ever before. This is the reason why the dream of thousands of Indian youth to go to America is getting dim.
&w=360&resize=360,240&ssl=1 "Planera Crash: Another plane crashlogically in the United States, many homes have the death of 6")
