US pause on student visa appointments: How this impacts Indian students

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order comes amidst the Trump administration’s punitive targeting of Harvard University for failing to control purported ‘antisemitic’ speech and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

This is also the latest move in the broader crackdown on immigration, efforts to tighten immigration policies, including increased deportations and the cancellation of student visas.

This move has spurred anxiety among Indian students seeking to emigrate to the US in pursuit of higher education.

How did the US become a top destination for Indian students?

The United States offers a vast range of opportunities with over 4,000 educational institutions, most of which offer four-year degree programs. While many US institutions do not require IELTS scores, students are still required to prove their proficiency in English. US officials have also actively organised educational events across India to promote American universities and attract more Indian students.

Education consultants have identified the surge in Indian students seeking the US for higher studies in recent years as a fallout of changes in the immigration policies of Canada, Australia and the UK. In 2024, Canada introduced a cap on the number of international students, making it harder for many to gain admission. Both Australia and the UK have tightened their student visa rules, making the US a more attractive and stable option.

Gurpreet Singh, a Kapurthala-based education consultant specialising in study abroad programs for Canada, the US, and Europe, said, “Visa policies in Canada are becoming increasingly strict. Meanwhile, the US visa approval rate, which used to be just 15-20%, has improved significantly in recent years.”

Singh added, “The US has always been viewed as a land of opportunity or an ‘earning heaven’ by many.”

For students, the US presents advantages like relatively affordable housing, milder weather compared to Canada, and flexible tuition payment options, with fees often due only on joining the institution.

How many Indian students go to the US each year?

In recent years, the number of Indian students choosing the US for higher education has sharply increased. The US is now second only to Canada in hosting Indian students.

According to American embassy sources, the US Mission to India issued more student visas over the last five years compared to 2018, 2019, and 2020, when the combined number was less than one lakh student visas. A total of 115,115 and 130,730 student visas were granted to Indian students in 2022 and 2023, respectively, for admission to various American institutions. Although the number dropped to 86,110 in 2024, India still ranked first in terms of student visas issued, ahead of China, which had about 82,000.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply during the 2024 Monsoon Session of Parliament, provided updated data on Indian students studying abroad. Out of 1,335,878 Indian students abroad in 2024, around 427,000 were in Canada and 337,630 were in the US, making it the second most preferred destination.