WASHINGTON: The United States issued nearly one-fifth fewer student visas in August, following a crackdown by President Donald Trump, led by a steep drop for India, which overtook China as the top country of origin, data showed on Monday.
The United States issued 313,138 student visas in August, the most common start month for US universities, a 19.1% drop from the same month in 2023, according to the International Trade Commission.
India, which was the top source of foreign students in the United States last year, experienced the most significant decline, with 44.5% fewer student visas issued compared to the previous year.
Visa issuance also dropped for Chinese students, but not nearly at the same rate.
The United States issued 86,647 visas to students from mainland China in August, more than double the number issued to students from India.
The statistics do not reflect the overall numbers of US-based students, many of whom remain on previously issued visas.
Trump has put a top priority since returning to the White House, both on curbing immigration and on weakening universities, which his administration sees as a key power base of the left.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefly suspended the processing of student visas in June, a peak month, as he issued orders requiring US embassies to vet applicants' social media.
In rules that affect Indians in particular, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for applicants to apply for visas outside the jurisdiction of US consulates in their home countries, even when there are backlogs.
Trump has taken a series of actions at odds with India, which for decades had been courted by US policymakers of both parties, who saw the billion-plus nation as a natural counterweight to China.
Trump has also imposed a hefty new fee on H-1B visas, which are mainly used by Indian technology workers.
Trump, however, has voiced hope for ramping up the number of Chinese students to boost relations between the two powers, a sharp contrast to earlier messaging from Rubio, who had vowed to "aggressively" revoke visas from Chinese students he accuses of exploiting US technical know-how.
