iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Indian students, who surged past China to become the largest group of international students in the United States, are now facing a drop in study visa approvals.
As per data from the U.S. State Department, between January and September 2024, there has been a 38% decline in F-1 visas issued to Indian nationals, when compared to the same period in 2023.
Data showed only 64,008 Indian students received F-1 visas during the aforementioned period in 2024.
In 2023, between January and September, 103,495 visas were issued to Indians.
The 2024 numbers also mark the lowest since 2020.
Amid a raging pandemic, only 6,646 visas had been issued during the same period that year.
The numbers were back to normal with 65,235 visas issued in 2021, and 93,181 visas issued to Indian students in 2022.
Meanwhile, not just Indian students, Chinese nationals have also faced the same.
The group saw an 8% decrease in F-1 visa approvals in 2024.
