No rebound for the US as F-1 visa slump deepens

The United States is seeing no rebound in F-1 visa issuances to Indian students, as the slump deepens. New data shows that the number of F-1 visas granted to Indian nationals has continued to fall, extending a downward trend that began earlier this year.

The decline marks a sustained drop in student visa approvals, which had already slowed in previous months. The latest figures indicate that the recovery many had hoped for has not materialized, with visa numbers remaining well below pre-slump levels.

Indian students have long been the second-largest group of international students in the U.S., after China. The ongoing slump in F-1 visas could affect enrollment at American universities, which rely on international student tuition and fees.

The reasons for the continued decline are not specified in the data. However, the trend suggests that factors such as policy changes, processing delays, or shifting student preferences may be contributing to the sustained drop in visa issuances.