F1 visa rejections by US surge to decade high: What it means for Indian students

Impact on Indian students of surge in US student visa rejections

Student visa rejections in the United States reached a decade-high during the fiscal year 2023-2024, with 41 per cent of F-1 visa applications denied — nearly double the rejection rate from 2014, The Indian Express reports.

In fiscal year 2014, a total of 595,000 F-1 visas were approved, with 173,000 rejections. By 2023, approvals dropped to 445,000, while rejections rose to 253,000, according to data from the US Department of State.

The number of visa applications steadily decreased after 2014-15, hitting a low of 162,000 during the Covid year of 2019-2020.

Post-Covid, although the number of applications began to rise again, there was a 3 per cent dip in 2023-2024, falling from 699,000 in 2022-2023 to 679,000 in 2023-2024. As a result, 279,000 visa denials in the last fiscal year represent the highest rejection rate in a decade. A total of 401,000 F-1 visas were issued in 2023-2024, down from 445,000 the previous year, according to The Indian Express.

The sharp decline in the issuance of student visas raises an important question: Why is this happening, and how will it impact Indian students? To better understand this, let's first take a closer look at F-1 visas.

What is an F-1 visa?

The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant student visa for individuals who wish to study in the US at a school, college, or seminary. Unlike the M-1 visa for vocational students, the F-1 visa is for academic students.

The visa's validity lasts for the duration of the academic program, plus an additional 60 days. Once it expires, the individual must leave the US and reapply for a new visa.

F-1 visa holders can work, but their job options are limited in both type and location. While the visa holder's spouse and children can accompany them, they cannot work. Children can attend school under F-2 visas, tied to the status of the primary visa holder.

Impact on Indian Students

According to The Indian Express report, the number of student visas issued to Indian students in the first nine months of 2024 dropped by 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

Although the US government has not provided country-specific data on refusal rates, F-1 visa approvals for Indian students have steadily declined. Between fiscal years 2018 and 2023, the approval rate dropped from 65.03 per cent to 63.74 per cent, while the rejection rate climbed from 34.97 per cent to 36.26 per cent.

This trend continued in 2023-2024, with data from October 2023 to January 2024 showing a further decrease in approvals compared to the previous fiscal year.

The first four months of FY 2025 also saw lower approval numbers than the same period in FY 2024, with just 13,894 F-1 visas granted from October 2024 through January 2025, signaling a continued decline.

Although the Trump administration's immigration policies have been stricter, the reduction in F-1 visa approvals for Indian students began under the Biden administration and reflects broader shifts in US visa policies.

Global Restrictions on Student Visas

As the US increases F-1 visa rejections, other countries are also limiting international student numbers.

In 2024, Canada announced a 35 per cent decrease in study permits due to pressure on housing, healthcare, and services. The country plans a further 10 per cent reduction in 2025. Similarly, the UK has restricted foreign students from bringing dependents, leading to a significant drop in international student enrollments, with some UK universities seeing a 40 per cent decline.

Shifting Immigration Trends for Indian Students

While the US has seen a decline in student visa approvals for Indian students since 2024, there has been a noticeable shift in immigration trends.

Applications for major Anglophone destinations such as Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US have decreased. Stricter policies, including higher financial proof requirements and stricter evaluations of students' intentions, have contributed to this decline.

In 2024, Canada saw a 46 per cent drop in international student applications, from 868,000 in 2023 to 469,000, according to MSM Unify. Australia also experienced a 36 per cent decline, with applications falling from 390,000 to 176,000. The UK and US saw more moderate declines of 16 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, with the UK receiving 294,000 applications and the US 322,000.

As a result, students are increasingly considering alternative study destinations such as France, Germany, Dubai, Spain, and Malta.