Arrivals from India on US student visas fell 39% in August to 25,321 compared to the previous year, marking the third consecutive annual August decline.
The decline followed stricter screening, social media profile reviews, visa processing delays, and a rise in F-1 visa refusal rates for Indian applicants to 61% by 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security proposed new OPT fees of $70,000 for a first period and finalized a rule replacing Duration of Status with fixed four-year periods.