US Pauses Student Visa: Who Will Be Affected And Which Countries Send Most Students?

There were 3.32 lakh Indian students in the US in 2023-24, according to a report. This year too, thousands of Indian students were in the middle of the process to apply to US universities.

File photo of US President Donald Trump.

Source : X/White House

The United States has announced temporarily stopping new student visa interviews and ordered all the embassies and consular sections to pause scheduling new interviews.

The move comes as part of the Trump administration's plan to expand the screening of student applicants' social media as part of their application.

The White House plan to stop new student visa interviews comes even as the Trump government has doubled down its action against Harvard University, cutting its federal funding and banning the institution from enrolling international students.

Which Students Are Set To Be Affected?

The decision is expected to affect students across countries who were looking forward to apply to the Universities in the United States.

However, the move is expected to hit Indian students as the country is among the largest sources of foreign students in the US. 

According to the Open Doors 2024 report, there were 3.32 lakh Indian students in the US in 2023-24. This year too, thousands of Indian students were in the middle of the process to apply to US universities, as the academic year begins in August for most students.

Speaking on the development, Mamta Jani, Founder of Ontrack Education, said the presence on the internet is increasingly becoming a factor that affects one's academic outcomes and added that students must not see this as a deterrent.

"The greater scrutiny over online activity shows a fundamental shift. The presence on the Internet is increasingly becoming a factor that affects your academic outcomes. While the intent is rooted in national security, students must not see this as a deterrent but as a call to act wisely. This is the time to clean up digital footprints, stay informed, and seek expert guidance on what may be considered sensitive content," Jani said.

"Planning is crucial, and for this, start early, maintain professionalism online, and stay transparent in your application. This is not the end of your dream, just a pause requiring more awareness and responsibility. With the right strategy and preparedness, students can still step confidently toward their U.S. education goals," she added.

How Many Foreign Students Go To The US?

During the 2023-2024 academic year, 11.3 lakh international students went to institutions in the US.

A majority of the international students, around two-thirds in the 2023-2024 academic year, came from Asia.

India remained at the top, followed by China (277,398 students), and South Korea (43,149 students).

Where Do International Students Study?

International students go to universities across the 50 states of the US, including the prestigious Ivy League institutions.

Harvard currently had 6,800 international students, while New York University (NYU) had 27,247 international students. In other universities, like the Yale, Northwestern University and others, the international students constitute a significant number.

What About Students Who Need To Renew Their Visas?

Though the White House has stopped the new visa interviews, it's not yet clear if the move will affect students who are already in the US and need to get their visas renewed.

The F-1 student visa is granted for a period of five years and the renewal process is the same as the new application.

In some courses like the PhDs, which can extend up to eight years, many research scholars are required to renew their US visa in the middle of their programme.