WASHINGTON: India and China faced the biggest impact from the Trump administration’s tightened immigration policies, with approximately 2.5 lakh fewer visas issued in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to a recent report.
Data from the US State Department, released in early March, shows an 11 per cent decline in permanent resident and temporary visas between January and August 2025. These visas cover students, skilled workers, and family members of US citizens and legal residents, excluding tourist visas, which also saw a decline.
Visas for Indian and Chinese nationals fell by around 84,000, largely due to reductions in international student and worker approvals. Student visas alone dropped sharply, from over 3.44 lakh in early 2024 to just above 2.38 lakh in 2025. Family preference visas, covering adult children and siblings of US citizens, fell by more than 27 per cent, or roughly 44,000 visas.
Other categories were similarly affected: visas for seafarers and airline workers fell by 30,876, cultural exchange visitor visas dropped by 29,594, and fiancé/spouse visas were nearly halved from 37,229 to 18,894 in the same period. Business and tourism visas also fell by 3.4 per cent, totaling almost two lakh fewer approvals.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the move, stating, “President Trump was elected with a resounding mandate to put American citizens first, and every policy decision reflects that priority.” A State Department spokesperson added, “A visa is a privilege, not a right. Unlike the previous administration, President Trump prioritizes the safety of Americans over mass migration of unvetted foreign nationals.”
Experts note that the policy has particularly affected Indian and Chinese students and skilled workers, potentially slowing talent inflow into the US and impacting bilateral educational and business exchanges.