Is Studying In US Still A Dream? 70–80% Indian Students At Risk Amid Visa Delays

US Visa: The United States, once the most sought-after education destination for Indian students, is now witnessing a staggering 70–80% decline in student arrivals from India, education consultants have warned. Delays in visa appointments, unexplained rejections, and lack of clarity from US authorities have thrown the academic futures of thousands into uncertainty just weeks before the Fall 2025 semester.

Unusual Delays And Rising Anxieties

According to consultants across Hyderabad—a major hub for overseas education—panic has taken over what should have been a season of last-minute packing and airport farewells. "By this time usually, most students are done with their visa interviews and are preparing to fly. This year, we're still refreshing the portal every day hoping for a slot to open. It's the worst in years," Sanjeev Rai from Hyderabad Overseas Consultant told the Times of India.

The crisis, stakeholders claim, is due to a combination of unresolved backlogs, opaque processes, and unusually high rejection rates. While US officials had earlier promised a phased release of visa slots, students report that bookings are either not confirmed or disappear without explanation. Ankit Jain from Window Overseas Education Consultancy noted that even students who successfully book slots are not receiving confirmations. He suggested that the most plausible explanation for slots appearing without follow-through could be that US authorities are running system tests.

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As a result, students are exploring other countries for education, "I really could not wait. I might just lose out on a year. It looks like a dead end at this point, hence I decided to withdraw my application," said a 23-year-old, who is now exploring Germany for a master's in automotive engineering. Arvind Manduva from I20 Fever Consultancy reports receiving panic calls from students and parents alike. “If slots aren’t released in the next few days, thousands of dreams will be shattered,” he said, estimating an 80% drop in applicants this fall.

Unexpected Rejections And Shifting Choices

Another growing concern is the spike in visa rejections, even for students who applied as early as March and had already secured interview dates. "Many students who usually would have had smooth approvals are being turned away. Their social media was also clean. The only reason that everyone seems to be receiving is 214B," Jain added. This particular clause of the US Immigration and Nationality Act is often used to deny visas when an applicant fails to prove strong enough ties to their home country, raising doubts about their intent to return after their stay in the US.

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Last year, India overtook China to become the largest source of international students to the US, with over 3.3 lakh Indian students enrolled. As of January 2024, more than 11.6 lakh Indian students were pursuing higher education abroad, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. Europe is quickly emerging as a favored alternative.

From the other side of the globe, Ravi Lothumalla from US Admission, a Texas-based consulting firm, offered a different perspective. Hethatthis is not a new process, and the rules, vetting, and scrutiny had been in place for years, and has just been implemented now. 

In a statement, the US Consulate General in Hyderabad acknowledged the issues and said that visa slots have resumed: "We're working to fully vet visa applicants to ensure they do not intend to harm America or our interests, and that they credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and to anticipate additional processing time for these visa categories."