Indian students abandon US study dreams amid Trump visa crackdown

For weeks, Subash Devatwal’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing. As the founder of an education consultancy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, he’s become a sounding board for panicked Indian students and parents alike, all with the same urgent question: is studying in the US still possible?

Until recently, Devatwal’s business thrived on helping Indian families achieve their “American dream” — sending children to US universities, a move often seen as a path to economic and professional success. Last year, Indians became the largest group of international students in the United States, overtaking the Chinese for the first time, with more than 330,000 enrolled.

But under US President Donald Trump’s second administration, that dream is rapidly collapsing. A series of new restrictions — including increased visa scrutiny and an indefinite suspension of student visa interviews — has left students stranded and hopes in limbo. Trump’s now-blocked attempt to bar Harvard from admitting international students only intensified the sense of dread, The Guardian reported.

Visas halted, futures frozen

The impact is already being felt on the ground. “The students are in shock,” said Devatwal. “They spend years preparing for this, but the chaos in US policy is forcing them to give up.” In prior years, his consultancy helped over 100 students enrol in US universities. This year, he’s sent just 10 — the rest are heading to countries like the UK, France, and Germany.

A recent analysis by The Hindu projected a 28% drop in Indian students heading to the US in 2025. For families who have often mortgaged their homes, sold jewellery, or taken out loans to fund these educations, the risk now feels too great.

A father’s dashed hopes

Brijesh Patel, a textile trader from Surat, had saved for over a decade to send his son abroad — even selling his wife’s gold jewellery to afford consultancy fees. But with the visa process frozen and fears of rejection looming, Patel’s son was advised not to apply at all. “We simply can’t take that risk,” Patel said. “If something goes wrong, we’ll never recover the money.”

Still, he clings to hope. “I’m an optimist. My son will wait a year. This dream is not just his — it belongs to all of us.”

Even top scholars not spared

The uncertainty has also hit India’s best and brightest. A Fulbright-Nehru scholar who was set to begin doctoral work at an Ivy League university this fall described how their offer was abruptly rescinded, with all fellowship applicants downgraded from “finalist” to “semi-finalist” as the Trump administration reviews the entire program. “It’s caused panic,” the student said. “We’re deleting old posts, self-censoring everything.”

In another case, Nihar Gokhale, 36, had secured a fully funded PhD position at a private Massachusetts university. But last month, his funding was withdrawn without warning. “They said it was a situation out of their control,” he said. With US options now unviable, he plans to pursue his studies in the UK.

Shift to Europe and the Middle East

Piyush Bhartiya, co-founder of education tech firm AdmitKard, said the interest has now decisively moved toward Europe. Students admitted to top American institutions like NYU are instead opting for the London School of Economics. Germany has emerged as a top destination for science and engineering, while the Netherlands, Ireland, and France are gaining ground. “For undergraduates, the Middle East is also becoming popular,” Bhartiya said, “given its proximity and the perception that it’s safer.”

‘It’s not just about one student’

As anxiety deepens, Devatwal noted that these decisions are not made lightly. “In India, it’s not just one student going abroad. It’s a family’s pride, sacrifice, and investment — often generations’ worth — wrapped into one opportunity.”

Now, many of those opportunities are being deferred or abandoned entirely. And unless US policy changes course, the country may lose not just a generation of Indian students, but a legacy of global academic leadership.