India among worst hit countries as number of US visas issued drop by 11% in 2025
India Today
Legal immigration to the US in 2025 has seen one of its sharpest declines since the pandemic. About 2,50,000 fewer visas in total were issued compared to 2024, reported The Washington Post. The drop has been global, but India stands out as one of the worst affected, alongside China. Visa approvals for the two countries fell by a combined 84,000.
Legal immigration to the US slowed sharply in 2025, with India among the worst-affected countries, reported The Washington Post, attributing the backslide to policy changes by the Donald Trump administration.
According to US State Department data, the period between January and August 2025 saw an 11% drop in the number of permanent and temporary visas granted, compared to the same time period in 2024, or about 250,000 fewer visas being granted, reported The Washington Post.
This is the largest decline in the number of visas granted in a year since the Covid-19 pandemic. This figure includes visas for students, workers, and family members of US citizens and legal residents, but excludes tourist visas.
The decline has been widespread. According to The Post report, of the 61 countries that recorded at least 5,000 visa approvals in early 2024, only seven of those registered an increase in 2025. India and China were among the hardest hit, with visa issuances to their nationals falling by a combined 84,000.
International students have borne a significant share of the impact. The total student visas issued dropped by more than 30% in the first eight months of 2025, according to The Post. Exchange visitor visas, which are often used by foreign medical professionals, also saw a sharp decline.
The slowdown follows a series of policy changes by the Trump administration. These include a travel ban covering 39 countries, a temporary pause on student and exchange visa interviews, stricter vetting measures such as mandatory social media checks, and staffing cuts at the State Department that have reduced processing capacity.
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