Anxious and adrift-Indian students face uncertainty amid new US visa curbs

New Delhi, May 30: The mood among Indian students aspiring to study in the United States has turned from excitement to anxiety. With US embassies halting new student visa appointments and expanding scrutiny of applicant’s social media activity, many are left confused about their next steps.

“We have seen reports suggesting the US government’s updated guidance regarding students and exchange visitor visa applicants,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a press briefing on Thursday. “The welfare of Indian students’ abroad remains of utmost priority to the Government of India. We hope that the applications of Indian students will be considered on merit and that they will be able to join their academic programs on time.”

While Jaiswal struck a note of cautious optimism, acknowledging visa issuance as a sovereign prerogative of the U.S., his words did little to ease the growing panic and worry among students. Those who have already applied or secured admission offers to American universities are unsure whether they will be able to travel in time for the Fall 2025 semester. A close family friend kid, who spent months researching her academic future to join a postgraduate course at a top U.S. public university said. “I have spent months preparing for this. Now, I do not know if I will be able to go.”

The US State Department announced Thursday that it had suspended the scheduling of new F, M, and J category visa interviews. In an internal memo, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed consular sections worldwide “not to add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity” while the administration expands mandatory social media screening for applicants.

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting,” a State Department spokesperson said as reported by the media. Since 2019, visa applicants have been required to disclose their social media handles, but the new policy appears to deepen that scrutiny without clarity on what may be deemed disqualifying content.

These development follows a string of restrictive moves by the Trump administration targeting foreign students. On Thursday, it also announced steps to “aggressively revoke” visas held by Chinese students linked to the Communist Party or engaged in sensitive research areas.

Though the new restrictions are ostensibly directed at national security concerns, Indian students fear collateral damage. “When U.S. officials talk vaguely about increased vetting, it sends shivers through the entire international student community,” said a Delhi-based educational consultant, requesting anonymity. “Even students with spotless records are worried their visas could be denied or delayed arbitrarily.”

India has long been one of the largest sources of international students in the U.S. In the 2023–24 academic year, over 330,000 Indian students were enrolled in American institutions, according to MEA spokesperson. The number was expected to grow further in 2025 as more Indian students pursued STEM and management degrees in the US, often seeing them as a gateway to global careers.

But now, many are reconsidering as one of the professors said that it looks like as if foreign students are a burden and no longer welcome—or at least not with open arms even though US universities earn not only huge amount of money from Indian students but some best minds.”

The uncertainty is especially tough for students in limbo—those who have not yet received I-20 forms from universities or who were waiting for their visa appointment slots to open. With embassy scheduling on hold and no clear timeline for resumption, many fear they might have to defer their studies by a semester or even a full academic year.

Even academic advisors or senior alumni of the respective universities are advising students to prepare contingency plans as any delay in visa approval could lead to loss of scholarships, academic year or late arrivals that hamper coursework and accommodation arrangements. Despite MEA’s reassurances, few Indian students feel reassured. “No advice at this juncture is helpful,” said an aspiring applicant as they are left helpless, watching policy shifts that is completely out of their control. For now, many are turning to online forums and student networks to seek clarity, a ray of hope, but uncertainty remains endless. As India’s diplomatic channels engage with Washington DC, students can only hope that merit and academic ambition will outweigh geopolitical calculations in the final tally of visa approvals.