**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses concerns regarding the impact of U.S. restrictions on Indian students. It details the number of Indian students in the U.S., visa statistics over the past five years, and issues faced by students, including visa revocations. It further addresses diplomatic engagement with the U.S. to safeguard the interests of Indian students, referencing policy changes and expanded screening processes implemented by the U.S. government in 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Indian Students in the U.S.:**
* As of June 2025, 372,424 Indian nationals were pursuing education in the U.S.
* **U.S. Visa Issuance to Indian Students (Past Five Years):**
* 2019-20: 20,628
* 2020-21: 85,385
* 2021-22: 126,431
* 2022-23: 143,811
* 2023-24: 99,169
* **Visa Revocation Issues (April 2025):**
* Some Indian students had their SEVIS records terminated and visas revoked, facing potential deportation.
* The U.S. government reinstated thousands of visas in early May 2025.
* **New U.S. Policy Framework:**
* Plans exist to expand visa revocation grounds, potentially including participation in political protests.
* The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi advised that visa grant does not guarantee continued stay.
* Visa monitoring continues post-approval; rule-breaking can lead to visa revocation and deportation.
* Examples of rule-breaking: skipping classes, leaving courses without notification, minor infractions (e.g., DUI, speeding tickets), political activism, or overstaying visa validity.
* **Expanded Screening and Vetting:**
* The U.S. conducts thorough vetting, including online presence, for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.
* Applicants may need to adjust privacy settings on social media to public.
* Applicants must establish their eligibility for the visa, including intentions consistent with admission terms.
* **Government of India's Actions:**
* Issues faced by Indian students are regularly raised with U.S. authorities.
* The Ministry of External Affairs is engaged with the U.S. to promote secure mobility frameworks.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Indian Students:**
* *Impact:* Face uncertainty regarding visa status, potential for abrupt visa revocation, increased scrutiny of online activity, and potential deportation for rule violations.
* *Action Required:* Adhere strictly to visa terms, avoid actions that could lead to visa termination (e.g., rule-breaking, political activism), and ensure social media presence aligns with visa requirements.
* **Government of India:**
* *Impact:* Must address concerns of Indian students, engage in diplomatic dialogues to protect student interests, and ensure fair treatment of Indian nationals in the U.S.
* *Action Required:* Continue diplomatic engagement with the U.S. to address student concerns and promote mutually beneficial mobility frameworks.
Key Entities Referenced
United States of America: Country where Indian students are pursuing education and facing visa restrictions.
Indian students: Nationals of India pursuing education in the United States, who are the subject of the policy concerns.
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for addressing the concerns of Indian students abroad.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: U.S. government agency that provided SEVIS Mapping Pool Data on Indian students.
U.S. Department of State: U.S. government agency that issued student visas and press releases regarding visa screening.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System): System used to track international students and exchange visitors in the United States; termination of SEVIS records affected students.
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi: The diplomatic mission of the United States in India, which issued an advisory regarding student visa conditions.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP): U.S. agency that some students used the CBP Home App to voluntarily notify the U.S. government and self-deport.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1067
ANSWERED ON - 25/07/2025
IMPACT OF U.S. RESTRICTIONS ON INDIAN STUDENTS
1067. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a)the number of Indian students currently pursuing education in the
United States;
(b)the number of Indian students who have left for the United States
on student visas during last five years;
(c)whether the Government is aware of the recent restrictions
imposed by U.S. authorities on issuing student visas and
restrictions on institutes like Harvard to take in foreign students;
(d)if so, the impact of such restrictions on Indian students,
particularly who are already enrolled or planning to travel for
higher education;
(e)whether the Government is engaging in any diplomatic dialogue
with the United States to address the concerns of affected Indian
students; and
1(f) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken to safeguard the
interests of Indian students planning to study in the U.S. ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to f) As per the June 2025 SEVIS Mapping Pool Data brought out by the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a total number of 372,424 Indian
nationals are pursuing various educational programs (primary,
secondary, other vocational, high school, language training, flight school,
associate, bachelors, masters, doctorate, and others) of different time
durations in the United States of America.
As per data brought out by the U.S. Department of State, the number of
student visas issued by the U.S. Embassy and its Consulates in India to
Indian nationals for educational purposes over each of the past five
years is as follows:
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
20,628 85,385 126,431 143,811 99,169
2In April 2025, a number of international students in the U.S. where
confronted with a situation wherein their SEVIS or Student and
Exchange Visitor Information System records were terminated followed
by an email informing them that their student visa has been revoked,
putting them at risk of deportation proceedings.
The Indian Embassy and the Indian Consulates in the U.S. received a
number of representations from Indian students in the U.S. regarding
revocation of their student visas and/or termination of their SEVIS
records. For some students, the notification of the loss of their legal
status was accompanied with the suggestion that they self-deport. Some
students used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to
voluntarily notify the U.S. government and self-deport, so that they may
still have the opportunity to return legally to the U.S. in the future.
Several international students challenged the revocation of their student
visas and termination of their SEVIS records and filed lawsuits against
the U.S. government, alleging that they were denied due process and
that the terminations were unlawful. However, in early May 2025, in a
significant policy reversal, the U.S. government reinstated thousands of
visas for international students and recent graduates whose legal status
3had been abruptly revoked. The reinstatement of visas did offer
temporary relief to several affected students.
The U.S. administration has since signalled plans to introduce a new
policy framework for visa terminations, potentially expanding revocation
grounds to include participation in political protests or actions perceived
as hostile to the administration. Amid ongoing legal battles and shifting
policies, the uncertainty continues to affect the international student
community and may have lasting impacts on those considering studying
in the U.S.
The US Embassy in New Delhi in an advisory of June 2025 conveyed that
grant of a student visa does not guarantee the continued stay of the
student in the United States. They confirmed that the visa monitoring
continues post-approval and rule breaking can lead to revocation of visa
and deportation. Skipping classes or leaving the course without notifying
the School/University; minor infractions such as driving without a
licence, DUI or driving under intoxication incidents, or getting a ticket
for speeding or parking violation; engaging in political activism or
protests; or overstaying beyond the student visa validity can result in
4termination of the relevant student visa and future U.S. visas could also
be denied.
On 18 June 2025, U.S. Department of State issued a Press Release titled,
‘Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants.’
The said press release mentions that the U.S. uses all available
information in its visa screening and vetting process to identify visa
applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those
who pose a threat to U.S. national security. Under the new guidance, the
U.S. would conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including
online presence of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F,
M, and J non-immigrant classifications. To facilitate this vetting, the U.S.
has required all applicants to adjust the privacy settings on all of their
social media profiles to “public.” The new U.S. guidance mentions that
every visa adjudication is a national security decision, and calls on all
applicants to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought,
including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the
terms for their admission.
It may be noted that issuance of visa and the related policy and
processes are the sovereign prerogative of the concerned state.
5However, the Government of India has been regularly raising all issues
being confronted by Indian students with the U.S. authorities at various
levels. The Ministry of External Affairs continues to remain engaged with
the relevant U.S. authorities to promote mutually advantageous and
secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal
mobility of students and professionals, and facilitating short-term tourist
and business travel, while addressing illegal immigration and human
trafficking by taking strong action against the bad actors, criminal
facilitators, and illegal immigration networks.
*****
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