A US State Department official reported that this year saw the cancellation of more than 6,000 F-1 visas for foreign students. Overstays and “support for terrorism” were among the infractions that led to their revocation.
Foreign Nationals Are Repelled by Trump’s Immigration Regulations
A recent study has revealed more startling statistics, highlighting how US President Donald Trump’s administration’s immigration crackdown has become a significant deterrent for international students seeking enrollment in US institutions and universities.
In July, the total number of foreign visitors entering the United States on student visas fell to slightly under 79,000. Bloomberg’s review of statistics from the US International Trade Administration shows that the 28% decline is the largest monthly decline in 2025.
China and India
For the fourth month in a row, the number of students entering the US on student visas decreased year over year, with arrivals from China dropping by 26% and those from India falling by 46%. The Financial Express claims that, as China and India have historically been the nation’s top two sources of international students, citizens of those nations were disproportionately affected.
Indians comprise the largest international group.
About 332,000 Indian students enrolled at US universities in the 2023–24 academic year, making them the largest international group. China came in second with roughly 277,000 students. A record 1.1 million international students were enrolled that year, according to figures from Open Doors.
Financial Loss
According to a report by Bloomberg, US universities are already projecting a 30% drop in the number of first-time international students enrolling on campus this autumn. An estimated $2.6 billion in tuition revenue will be lost for the United States as a result of the inevitable consequence.
The NAFSA
In contrast, NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International estimate that, based on new data from the US Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and the Department of State, the US may lose out on 150,000 student enrollments this fall.
Losses in the Higher Education Sector
The anticipated rejection of overseas students is predicted to cost the higher education sector up to $7 billion, which will impact more than 60,000 jobs in US cities as the new academic season begins in late August or early September.
