A recent report published on August 3 by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), authored by senior legal fellow George Fishman, revealed a sharp decline in F-1 student visas issued by the United States to nationals of India and China in 2025. The analysis examined visa issuances during the peak May–August period preceding the academic year excluding 2020 due to the pandemic and warned that the downward trend could impact the U.S. workforce and national security.
Key Statistics on Visa Issuances and Enrollment:
The data shows substantial decreases in visa approvals for the two largest sources of international students in the United States:
Indian Nationals: The U.S. issued 22,149 F-1 visas to Indian nationals between May and August 2025, reflecting an approximate 62 percent drop compared to the 58,694 visas issued during the same months in 2024.
Chinese Nationals: Visas granted to Chinese nationals fell to 40,034, marking a decline of about 34 percent from 61,075 in 2024.
Overall Enrollment Context: According to Institute of International Education data cited in the report, India led international student enrollment in the 2024–25 academic year with 363,019 students, followed by China with 265,919, together representing over half of all international college and university enrollments.
Implications for the OPT Program and Labor Market:
Fishman noted that sustained reductions in F-1 visas would subsequently shrink participation in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which permits eligible international graduates to work post-completion in the U.S.:
Participation Rates: During the 2024–25 academic year, nearly 294,000 international graduates worked under OPT, with Indian and Chinese nationals accounting for roughly 70 percent of participants.
Criticism and Policy Concerns: Fishman criticized the OPT framework, arguing that payroll tax exemptions give employers financial incentives to hire foreign graduates over domestic workers and pointing out that the program lacks certain labor protections mandated under the H-1B visa system.
National Security Perspective: He further suggested that lower visa numbers for Chinese nationals could help mitigate ongoing concerns regarding technology transfer and espionage, aligning with the stances of the Washington-based think tank which advocates for lower immigration levels and stricter policies.
