Indian students have witnessed a significant decline in F-1 student visas issued by the United States in 2024. According to the latest data from the US State Department, the number of F-1 visas granted to Indian nationals dropped by 38% in the first nine months of the year. Specifically, 64,008 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students from January to September 2024, down from 1,03,495 in the same period in 2023. This represents the lowest number of F-1 visas granted since 2020, when the pandemic severely impacted visa issuances.

While the drop in Indian student visas is notable, it is part of a broader trend affecting other international student cohorts as well. Chinese students, the second-largest group of international students in the US, also saw an 8% decrease in F-1 visas issued in 2024. Despite these declines, Chinese students still received more F-1 visas (73,781) than Indian students.

Interestingly, Indian students surpassed Chinese students in 2024, becoming the largest cohort of international students in the US. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, 3,31,000 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions during the 2023-24 academic year, a notable increase from the previous year. In contrast, the number of Chinese students in the US dropped, with 2,77,398 students recorded in the 2023-24 academic year, down from the previous year.

Despite the decline in visa issuances, Indian students remain a prominent presence in the US education system, with a growing student population despite challenges in visa approvals. The US F-1 visa program continues to be a key pathway for international students pursuing higher education in the US.