US Student Visa Latest News and Updates 2025

As per the US student visa latest news and updates, Indian students will be impacted the most from the pause on US student visa interview worldwide. India has been one of the top two countries sending students to the USA for higher education. In recent years, Indian students have even surpassed Chinese students, becoming the largest group of international students in the US. Based on the current US student visa news, Trump administration has now planned to revoke several visas of Chinese students. Earlier, many Indian students got their visas revoked over the antisemitic movement in USA. In addition, President Donald Trump even threatened several elite universities like Harvard University with freezing their federal funding due to their students protesting on campus. According to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, for the 2023-24 academic year, there are over 1,126,690 foreign students enrolled in USA. Indian students accounted for nearly 30 percent of all international students in USA during the 2023-24 academic year. Read along to understand the ongoing situation in USA regarding international student enrollment, as it directly impacts the Indian students.

This Story also Contains

1. June 20, 2025: US Resumes Visa Interview for International Students
2. June 19, 2025: Trump Welcomes Indian Students to Build Businesses in the US
3. June 18, 2025: Decline in US PhD Programs
4. June 17, 2025: US Student Visa Pause Affect on the Fall 2025 Intake
5. June 16, 2025: Trump Shows Support to Chinese Students
6. June 13, 2025: NAFSA and US for Success Coalition Support International Students
7. June 12, 2025: How the US is Treating Indian Students During Deportation?
8. June 11, 2025: US Student Visa Processing Resumes for Harvard University
9. June 10, 2025: Donald Trump is Honoured to Welcome International Students
10. June 9, 2025: How an Indian Student's F1 Visa Got Approved?
11. June 7, 2025: Small Win for Harvard University Against the Trump Administration
12. June 6, 2025: Indian Student Deported in USA
13. June 5, 2025: Chinese Student Visa Revoked in USA
14. June 4, 2025: Is Deleting Content from Social Media Safe for US Student Visa?
15. June 3, 2025: How Students are Reacting to US Student Visa Pause?
16. June 1, 2025: F1 Visa Approved in a 5-minute Interview
17. June 1, 2025: F1 Visa Rejection at US Consulate in India
18. May 30, 2025: US Student Visa Pause Will be Brief
19. May 29, 2025: Trump Administration Plans to Revoke US Student Visas for Chinese Students
20. May 28, 2025: US Student Visa Interviews Paused Worldwide
21. April 18, 2025: F1 Visa Slots Disappeared
22. April 16, 2025: Trump Threatening Harvard University
23. April 8: Deportation and Student Visa Revocation in USA
24. March 25, 2025: Proposed Bill to end OPT in USA

Also Read: Will Harvard University Ban International Students Under Trump Administration?

June 20, 2025: US Resumes Visa Interview for International Students

The US State Department has started processing US student visas again after a brief pause. However, there is a new requirement that all international student applicants now need to make their social media accounts public as part of a broader vetting process. Here are the key points of this new policy:

• Mandatory Social Media Access: Applicants are required to set their social media profiles to ‘public,’ which means consular officers can review their posts and messages.

• Vetting Criteria: Consular officers will look for any content that might be considered ‘hostile’ toward US culture, government, institutions, or values.

• Prioritization of Universities: Consulates have been directed to give priority to applicants who plan to attend universities where international students make up less than 15% of the student population. This could affect many prominent institutions, including Ivy League schools

If applicants refuse to make their accounts public or deny access, it could be seen as an attempt to hide online activities or not follow the visa rules, which might result in a visa rejection. The goal of this decision is to safeguard national security by ensuring a thorough screening of individuals coming to the country for educational purposes.

June 19, 2025: Trump Welcomes Indian Students to Build Businesses in the US

The US President Donald Trump has recently stated that he welcomes Indian and Chinese students graduating from top American universities to stay in the US and launch their own businesses. He mentioned that he is in favor of international students coming to USA, studying and then staying to work. However, he does not like the idea of international students studying in USA and then returning to their home country to build their own business. Trump emphasises that students must stay in USA and work in great companies or start their own companies in the USA. He also believes that checking students before allowing them to enter the country is important. Many international students are withdrawing their plans of studying in USA due to the ongoing reforms regarding the US student visa. Through these statements from Trump, it indicates that he recognizes that many of these international students play a vital role in boosting the US economy by founding major companies and creating jobs.

June 18, 2025: Decline in US PhD Programs

According to a recent report from The Economist, there has been a significant 40% drop in global searches for US PhD programs. Additionally, a 50% drop in the European students has been recorded. More and more domestic students in the US are also looking at PhD opportunities abroad, particularly in Europe and Asia. This decline in US PhD programs can be due to the strict immigration policies in the US, which have made getting US student visas and securing post-study work options quite uncertain. Silicon Valley, known as the global hub for innovation, thrives on elite US institutions like Stanford University. PhD candidates, especially those in STEM fields, play a crucial role in contributing to the field of research in USA. A decrease in PhD students affects the talent supply to major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Meta. In addition, US universities are finding it challenging to maintain their research output and funding without graduate researchers. International students are turning to PhD programs in countries like Canada, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands, which provide as they provide easier immigration policies, competitive research funding, and inclusive environments. The decline in US PhD programs is not just an academic concern but it is a risk to the research and innovation that is primary to the Silicon Valley. If the US does not make policy changes, it could negatively affect its position as a global leader in science and technology.

June 17, 2025: US Student Visa Pause Affect on the Fall 2025 Intake

Educational consultants are reporting a significant drop in applications to US universities for the upcoming Fall 2025 intake. Around this time every year, 70% of student visas are typically issued or renewed for USA. Compared to the previous years, the number of student intake in USA has dropped by at least 30%. This is due to the ongoing situation regarding the student visa pause in USA. Earlier US issued a warning that students who drop out or fail to attend classes without proper notice could face visa revocation and might be banned from entering the country in the future. Experts suggest that many students are either holding their study abroad plans or opting for countries that seem more flexible and stable in their visa process such as the UK, Germany, Ireland, and Australia. Earlier US issued a warning that students who drop out or fail to attend classes without proper notice could face visa revocation and might be banned from entering the country in the future.

June 16, 2025: Trump Shows Support to Chinese Students

Recently, President Donald Trump highlighted the importance of international students to US educational institutions in a social media post. Trump mentioned that he is supporting international student enrollment, especially from China, as promised during the US-China trade talks. He stated that “We have 500,000 students coming in from China.” However, the US State Department has put a temporary hold on student visa interviews to implement new social media screening procedures. Since late March 2025, around 1,024 international students across 160 US colleges and universities have had their visas revoked. However, this comment from President Donald Trump seems to suggest a more open approach to Chinese students and might indicate that the US student visa processing will soon be resumed.

June 13, 2025: NAFSA and US for Success Coalition Support International Students

A new advocacy campaign has been started by NAFSA and the US for Success Coalition. They are urging Congress to push for the immediate restart of US student visa appointments. This move comes in response to the US government's decision to halt visa interview scheduling on May 27, 2025, while it works on social media vetting for potential students. The organizations stress that this suspension puts at risk the valuable contributions that international students bring to communities across the US, and they insist that visa appointments need to resume right away. They are urging everyone involved to sign petitions and share their personal stories to highlight the urgency of this situation.

June 12, 2025: How the US is Treating Indian Students During Deportation?

A viral video showing an Indian student being handcuffed and pinned to the ground at Newark Liberty International Airport has received a loud reaction from people. The footage, shared by Indian-American entrepreneur Kunal Jain, captures the upset student during a deportation process. The Indian Embassy has confirmed that they are in touch with local authorities to address the matter. In response, the US Embassy in India issued a warning, stating that the USA "will not tolerate any abuse of visas or illegal entry" into the country. They also stated that while the US welcomes genuine travelers, there is no automatic right to visit, and any violations of US laws will be met with strict consequences. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges of Indian students abroad.

June 11, 2025: US Student Visa Processing Resumes for Harvard University

Harvard, one of the wealthiest and most prestigious universities in the US, has faced challenges due to the strict actions taken by the Trump administration. This includes freezing billions of dollars in grants and threats to take away its tax-exempt status. While the court has ordered to resume the US student visa process for Harvard students, the State Department clarified that all other policies are still in effect. This means that there will be a close examination of applicants' social media activity. To temporarily block President Donald Trump's ban on international students, the US State Department has instructed all consular offices around the world to start processing US student visas for Harvard University again.

June 10, 2025: Donald Trump is Honoured to Welcome International Students

Recently, President Donald Trump expressed that it’s an "honour" for the US to welcome international students. He stated that he aims to check students before allowing them to study in USA. Even after the statement, the administration is still implementing policies like increased social media checks and stricter rules for visa applicants. The number of international students in USA has dropped by 11.3% in 2025. Indian students have decreased from 354,295 to 255,442. President Trump's recent comments suggest a possible shift towards a more welcoming move for international students.

June 9, 2025: How an Indian Student's F1 Visa Got Approved?

An Indian student's F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi has interested several aspirants. This four-minute interview, which ended with the student being approved for a Master's in Computer Science at Northeastern University, offered some valuable tips for those looking to study in USA. The reason behind F1 visa approval is the clear and logical answers that the student provided. The questions revolved around why the aspirant chose a particular campus, what the financial support and backup are, and whether there is any relative residing in the US or not. The student answered confidently that he chose the Seattle campus for its impressive student-to-faculty ratio, a clear explanation of his financial support through a USD 100,000 education loan, a USD 6,000 scholarship, and his father is a co-sponsor. Similarly, several more students got their US student visa approved in the first week of June based on strong answers, profile, and financial support.

June 7, 2025: Small Win for Harvard University Against the Trump Administration

Amidst the ongoing tensions between Harvard University and the US government, a federal judge in the US has temporarily blocked the policy of President Donald Trump. The policy aimed to prevent international students from studying at Harvard University. Harvard submitted a legal petition that this new policy was not only unlawful but also driven by political motives. The university expressed that blocking international students would cause significant and immediate harm, negatively affecting its academic programs and reputation. The judge has agreed that Harvard could face serious consequences and has stated to pause the ban until a full court hearing can be held. This is seen as a small yet significant win for Harvard.

June 6, 2025: Indian Student Deported in USA

A 28-year-old student from Nalgonda, Telangana, got deported from USA. US authorities discovered that he had used fake educational certificates to obtain a US student visa. When he landed back in India on June 1, 2025, he was arrested at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. During questioning, the student confessed to using fake documents, which led to the arrest of the managing director of an overseas education consultancy who was allegedly involved in creating those forged certificates. This incident highlights the ongoing issues surrounding fraudulent practices and unauthorized consultants. In addition, it warns all the students aiming to study in USA or currently pursuing a course to be truthful during and after they receive the US student visa.

June 5, 2025: Chinese Student Visa Revoked in USA

The US government has been revoking student visas since 2025. Recently, they have aimed at the student visa of Chinese students. This resulted in US student visa revocations and terminations of legal status. The reason behind this is that the Trump administration feels that there is an urgency for the deportation of non-citizens connected to groups considered threats to US national security. Since March 2025, more than 1,000 international students from over 160 US universities have faced US student visa revocations. Around 14% of students were Chinese and did not receive any prior notice.

June 4, 2025: Is Deleting Content from Social Media Safe for US Student Visa?

Indian students dreaming of studying in the US are increasingly deleting or privatizing their social media accounts to avoid getting their US student visa rejected. However, experts warn that deleting content might unintentionally come off as you hiding something. Therefore, it is advised to keep a steady and transparent online presence, as sudden changes can be viewed negatively. While the guidelines are vague about what counts as "objectionable" content, political opinions, activism, or criticism of US policies are on the radar.

June 3, 2025: How Students are Reacting to US Student Visa Pause?

Indian students planning to study in USA are currently facing some uncertainty and anxiety due to the recent pause on US student visa by the Trump administration. As a result, students are now altering their social media profiles to avoid any inconvenience. Students who have already been admitted to a prestigious university in US. However, due to the ongoing fear and inability to appear for the F1 visa interview, he is considering other options like studying in Britain and Singapore. As India continues to be the largest source of international students in the US, these US student visa latest changes will have a major impact on Indian students.

June 1, 2025: F1 Visa Approved in a 5-minute Interview

An Indian student managed to receive an F1 visa for a Master's in Software Engineering at San Jose State University (SJSU). The interview lasted 5 minutes but involved in-depth and tricky questions at the US Consulate in Mumbai. During the interview, the visa officer mistakenly referred to the student’s program as ‘Computer Engineering.’ But the candidate clarified calmly and confidently. The officer also asked questions about the financial situation, expressing concerns about his dependence on a student loan. The student confidently mentioned his family’s income sources, assets, and a backup plan to manage the loan if necessary. The officer also mistakenly claimed that the candidate has a sibling in the USA on an H1B visa. He corrected again politely. At last, he was granted the F1 visa. This scenario is a good example that clarity, preparation, and confidence during US visa interviews are important and can impact the result.

June 1, 2025: F1 Visa Rejection at US Consulate in India

A woman from Delhi got her F1 visa application rejected after a brief interview at the US Embassy on May 29, 2025. Even though she was well-prepared and honest, mentioning that her spouse lives in the US might have caused the US visa rejection. Similarly, another applicant had their F1 visa rejected after a tough technical interview at the US Consulate in Hyderabad on May 30, 2025. The interview started with general questions but transitioned to more complex topics like data structures and machine learning. Despite giving clear answers, the applicant's visa was denied.

May 30, 2025: US Student Visa Pause Will be Brief

The US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce has stated that students should keep trying for F1 visa slots despite the current delays. She believes that the US student visa pause will be resolved sooner than expected. She also advised applicants to stay updated by checking online resources regularly. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)’s spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal gave a statement prompting US to process the student visas on a merit basis and on time. India, being one of the biggest contributors of international students to USA, is affected the most by the halt on the US student visa interviews.

Read More: US Student Visa Paused By Trump; Students Exploring Germany, UK, Ireland, France as Alternative Destinations

May 29, 2025: Trump Administration Plans to Revoke US Student Visas for Chinese Students

According to the latest US student visa news, US will revoke visas of Chinese students, especially those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. Chinese students contribute to being the second-largest international group in the USA. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US is planning to revoke the US student visa of several Chinese students. One of the reasons behind it is to reduce the number of international students in USA. The statement also mentioned that students who are connected with the Chinese Communist Party will be impacted by this decision. As per the US student visa updates, the USA will pay close attention to all future visa applications coming from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong.

May 28, 2025: US Student Visa Interviews Paused Worldwide

According to the latest US student visa news and updates, the US government has decided to temporarily pause student visa interviews worldwide. Furthermore, they are planning to implement social media vetting. Social media vetting means that all student visa applicants will now undergo review of their social media activity. Consular officers will be looking at posts, likes, comments, and shares on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) to spot any content they might consider a potential national security risk. Such a policy might slow down visa processing, which could have financial implications for universities and affect international student enrollment.

Read More: US New Student Visa Interviews Paused Temporarily

April 18, 2025: F1 Visa Slots Disappeared

In recent US student visa news, students have been experiencing difficulties with the F1 visa slot booking process since approximately mid-March 2025. Many have complained about no F1 visa slots available for booking. It seems like appointment slots disappear, especially after mid-March. As per the latest US student visa news, the number of consulates in India being limited and the demand for US study visas on the rise, this has led to a shortage of F1 visa slots for the Fall 2025 semester. For those looking to secure an F1 visa for Fall 2025, slots are expected to start opening up around June or July, although there might be a few available in May.

Read More: US F1 Visa Slots for Fall 2025

April 16, 2025: Trump Threatening Harvard University

Donald Trump has been on a mission to tackle antisemitism at universities across the USA. Harvard, known as the oldest and wealthiest private university in USA, was threatened by the Trump administration. A letter was sent to the university to follow the demands, or else the government will revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. Trump's goal is to discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and instead promote merit-based hiring practices. In addition, he wants the pro-Palestinian protests to stop, and students should not wear face masks on campus. After Harvard refused these demands, Trump's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that they would freeze 2.2billioningrantsand60 million in government contracts.

Read More:

• Why is Trump Threatening Harvard?

• What Donald Trump Demands from Elite Universities?

April 8: Deportation and Student Visa Revocation in USA

Several international students were threatened with arrest and deportation due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian or anti-Semitic protests at universities across USA. In March, over 790 students from more than 120 American colleges and universities had their visas terminated. Among those affected are four international students, Mahmoud Khalid, Ranjani Srinivasan, Yunseo Chung, and Rumeysa Ozturk, who had their visas revoked. The reasons behind visa revocation are minor incidents like traffic violations, social media posts, drunk driving etc. Ranjani Srinivasan opted to leave the US, using the CBP home app to self-deport on March 14, 2025, as her visa got cancelled on March 5, 2025.

Read More:

• Why is US Revoking Student Visas?

• Will More Indian Students Be Deported from US

March 25, 2025: Proposed Bill to end OPT in USA

OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. US has proposed a bill to put an end to the OPT program. The current review of the OPT bill in Congress seeks to eliminate the post-completion phase of the OPT program, to create more job opportunities for American graduates and to limit the hiring of foreign workers. The bill states that students can work while studying in USA on a study visa; however, the extension to work after their studies end should stop. This means that currently, OPT allows students to remain and work in the US for up to three years after their graduation should end. If the OPT removal bill passes, it could affect around 300,000 Indian students currently studying in the US.

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