For decades, families in India have dedicated years and much of their finances toward a singular goal: getting their children a degree from a US university. Despite the hefty cost – often bore in staggering loans – the risk was palatable because the reward was likely a career launchpad that no other country in the world could offer.

August 2025 data shows a 19% drop in foreign students, with 33,000 fewer from India and 12,00 fewer from China following new visa restrictions and travel bans.

Indian students are reigniting their ambitions for higher education in the United States, bolstered by recent updates on H-1B visa fees that have alleviated existing worries for students both in the U.

Federal data shows a significant drop in international student arrivals in the U.S. this August, down 19% compared to last year.

The US has introduced a dual threat for international students, combining visa stay limits with new tax proposals on OPT earnings.