International students planning to study in the United States this fall have faced unprecedented obstacles, including frozen school funds, suspended visa interviews, new social media screening requirements, and even visa revocations after approval.
Yang Lei, a TOEFL instructor with nine years of experience, recounted how one of his engineering students had his visa suddenly revoked just two weeks before departure, despite having already received approval and purchased plane tickets. "We don't know the specific reason, and officials haven't provided a clear response," Yang said, though he suspects it relates to the student's institution and field of study.
Of Yang's 16 students who applied to US universities this year, 10 received offers, mostly in humanities and social sciences such as arts, philosophy, and public administration. STEM students faced significantly more restrictions and uncertainty.
**Sharp Decline in Arrivals**
According to recent data from the US International Trade Administration (ITA), international student arrivals with visas in July 2025 dropped 28.5% compared to the same period last year, falling from approximately 107,000 to 77,000 students. This preliminary data excludes non-US citizens entering from Canada or Mexico by land.
Since most US institutions begin classes in late August, with first-time students required to arrive in July or early August for orientation activities, this decline suggests a significant drop in international student enrollment for the fall semester.
The National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) released preliminary predictions indicating that international student enrollment could fall 30-40% this fall, with total enrollment declining 15%.
"Offensive rhetoric, restrictive policies, and uncertainty in visa issuance are undoubtedly negatively impacting international students' perception of the United States as an ideal destination for study, research, or entrepreneurship," said Fanta Aw, NAFSA's Executive Director and CEO. "Without their contributions, our domestic students, communities, and economy would all be worse off."
**Visa Application Challenges**
The traditional peak period for student visa applications and approvals, May and June, became particularly challenging this year. On May 27, the Trump administration announced a suspension of new student visa interviews. While interviews resumed on June 18, all applicants were required to submit all social media accounts and make them publicly accessible for review.
NAFSA noted that public documents provided almost no guidance on social media screening procedures, calling it "vague and unnecessary administrative burden that adds greater trouble to a system already plagued by visa processing appointment delays."
Meng Yang, who successfully enrolled in an Ivy League law school, submitted six social media accounts and strategically posted dog photos before her interview to avoid appearing to have "zombie accounts."
US State Department data shows that F-1 non-immigrant visa (the most common student visa) issuances declined 12% from January to April this year, with May showing a 22% year-over-year decline.
The frequent policy changes and lack of guidance have made many applicants feel the process is "opaque" and "like a black box." While administrative reviews (commonly called "being checked") previously affected mainly STEM applicants, this has now become routine across all fields.
**Regional Impact**
Asian students experienced the largest declines, with arrivals from India and China—the two largest source countries—dropping 46.4% and 25.6% respectively to approximately 13,000 and 15,000 students. Students from the Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea also decreased by 20-40%.
The decline is partly attributed to current international students in the US being advised not to leave for vacations or family visits to avoid being blocked from re-entry by the Trump administration. Multiple US media outlets reported that over 6,000 student visas have been revoked this year, citing anonymous State Department officials.
**Economic Consequences**
The loss of international students has raised concerns within the United States. According to NAFSA, 1.1 million international students studying in the US during the 2023-2024 academic year contributed $43.8 billion to the American economy and supported 370,000 jobs nationwide.
Current projections suggest that a 30-40% decline in international students could result in $7 billion in local economic losses and eliminate over 60,000 jobs.
Research by University of North Florida economics professor Madeline Zavodny indicates that without immigrants, international students, and their children, US undergraduate enrollment could decrease by nearly 5 million students by 2037 compared to 2022, with graduate enrollment falling by at least 1.1 million.
"This would be catastrophic for many universities, especially in areas where the US population is already declining. It could lead to many university closures, reducing educational opportunities for American students, decreasing higher education-related jobs in many states and towns, and reducing America's college-educated workforce," Zavodny said.
Professor Guo Yingjian from Renmin University of China warned that the loss of international students poses a substantial threat to America's talent ecosystem: "International students have long injected rich intellectual resources and cultural diversity into US universities, playing important roles not only in academic research but also contributing significantly to research teams, doctoral programs, and laboratory construction. If visa policies continue to tighten, American higher education may face a talent gap, affecting its competitiveness in the global higher education system."
The situation has led many prospective students to consider alternative destinations including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, potentially reshaping global higher education flows.
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