Not just goods, Indian tourists are also finding it difficult to reach the US

Indian tourists are also finding it difficult to reach US

The impact of US restrictions is spilling over from goods to people, with Indian tourists beginning to feel the pinch. The number of tourist visas granted by the US to Indians fell 7 percent in April–May 2025 compared with the same period last year.

A Moneycontrol analysis shows that visa approvals have been slipping consistently since March, when the US had issued more than 97,000 visas, pointing to tightening scrutiny or capacity constraints at consulates.

In April, Indian travellers secured 91,710 US tourist visas under the B1/B2 category, down 9.6 percent from a year earlier. The slowdown persisted in May, when approvals slipped 5 percent to 90,859. Overall, Indians received 182,569 tourist visas in the two-month period, compared with 196,983 in April–May 2024.

“We are seeing a further slowdown in demand for the US currency as visa processes have become more difficult after US President Donald Trump assumed office in January. People are instead looking at Europe and East Asian countries for travel,” said Akash Bansal, managing director, Yakshni Finmart Pvt Ltd, a forex firm in Delhi.

Regional contrast

The decline is not unique to India. Approvals to Pakistan (-47%), Nepal (-47%), Bangladesh (-37%) and the Philippines (-37%) also fell sharply, reflecting a broader recalibration of the US visa regime in South and Southeast Asia.

Interestingly, some regions have bucked the trend. Mainland China recorded a 31 percent increase in approvals to more than 165,000 in April–May, while Colombia and Guatemala saw double-digit growth. This divergence suggests shifting US priorities, with greater openness to certain geographies even as approvals to India and its neighbours tighten.

Diversion to other destinations

The slowdown in US visa approvals is already nudging Indian tourists to alternative destinations. In the UK, visitor visa applications from India rose 4 percent in the April–June quarter of 2025, while approvals were up 9 percent year-on-year.