Significant Decline in Indian Student Arrivals to the US Ahead of Fall Semester

Drop in Indian Student Arrivals

This August, the influx of Indian students to the United States for the fall semester saw a notable decrease of 44.5% compared to the same month last year, marking the lowest figures since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Data from the International Trade Administration, a branch of the US Department of Commerce that monitors international visitor entries, indicates that only 41,540 Indian students arrived on F and M category visas this August.

The F visa is designated for academic pursuits, while the M visa is for vocational training.

The statistics encompass both new arrivals and returning students, making it difficult to ascertain the precise number of newcomers.

Typically, there is a spike in international student arrivals in August, coinciding with the academic year commencement at US universities.

Interestingly, the numbers had been on an upward trend in the post-pandemic period, with 56,000 Indian students arriving in August 2021, increasing to 80,486 in 2022, and reaching a peak of 93,833 in August 2023, as reported.

However, the figure for August 2024 has dropped to 74,825.

The last instance of lower arrivals was in 2017, during the initial year of Trump's presidency, when the count was 41,192.

This significant reduction in Indian student arrivals reflects a broader decline in international student traffic to the US, with total international student entries decreasing by 19% compared to the same month last year.

Asian nations, which represent over 70% of international students in the US, have experienced the most considerable declines, with a 24% drop in August, including a 12% decrease from China.

This downturn coincides with extensive changes to US immigration and visa policies during the Trump administration, which have included delays in visa processing, travel restrictions from 19 countries, and more stringent vetting of student visa applicants, including scrutiny of their social media profiles.

Additionally, the administration has issued warnings regarding the deportation of students for pro-Palestinian expressions.