US issues fewer visas in 2025 as India and China bear the brunt

Legal immigration to the United States declined in the first eight months of 2025, with India and China among the most affected countries, as policy changes under President Donald Trump reshaped visa approvals.

Data from the US State Department shows that from January to August 2025, the country approved 11 percent fewer permanent resident and temporary visas compared with the same period in 2024. This decline excludes tourist visas, which also fell during the period. The reduction reflects changes in immigration rules, stricter vetting, and fewer processing resources.

India, China see sharp fall in visas

According to a Washington Post report, the fall in visa approvals has affected students, workers, and families seeking to enter the United States. India and China saw a sharp drop, particularly in temporary visas for international students, exchange visitors, and family members of US citizens.

Overall, visas issued to nationals of both countries declined by about 84,000 compared with the previous year. Other countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam also recorded declines, while visas for Afghan nationals dropped amid new restrictions.

The data indicates a broader slowdown. In a group of 61 countries that had at least 5,000 visa approvals in early 2024, only seven saw an increase in 2025.

Policy changes, staffing cuts impact approvals
Several policy measures contributed to the drop in visa issuance. These include a travel ban on 19 countries introduced in June, a temporary pause on student visa interviews, and expanded screening requirements, including checks of applicants’ social media accounts.

At the same time, staff reductions at the State Department reduced processing capacity. Fewer consular appointments and longer wait times were reported at high-demand centres, adding to the decline in approvals.

It remains unclear how much of the drop is due to policy changes versus reduced demand from applicants.

Economic concerns over lower immigration
The decline in immigration is also reflected in wider economic trends. Estimates show that more immigrants left the United States than entered last year, contributing to weaker job growth in recent months.

“There’s no policy more important to the present and future of the US economy than immigration,” said Jason Furman, a Harvard University professor. “When we restrict immigration, we don’t just shortchange labor force growth today, we also reduce innovation and productivity growth in the future.”

The US administration has defended its approach. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said, “A visa is a privilege, not a right. Unlike the Biden administration, President Trump is not willing to compromise the safety of American citizens to allow mass migration of unvetted foreign nationals into our country.”

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said that “President Trump was elected with a resounding mandate to put American citizens first and every policy decision he’s made has reflected that priority.”

Students, families among hardest hit
Student visas recorded one of the steepest declines, falling by more than 30 percent in the first eight months of 2025. Exchange visitor visas, often used by foreign medical professionals, also dropped sharply.

The tighter rules followed announcements of stricter checks and cancellation of thousands of visas. A pause in interviews and expanded vetting further slowed the process.

Individual cases reflect the impact. Omar Mousa, a Palestinian doctor who secured a medical residency in the United States, was denied a visa. “I can’t stop thinking about this,” Mousa said. “I wasn’t just someone who just found himself a job. I’ve spent $20,000 and five years of my life, preparing, just focusing on this.”

Family-based visas also declined overall, especially for spouses and fiancés seeking temporary entry. However, green cards for immediate relatives of US citizens, such as parents and young children, rose by 6 percent.

Debate over impact on workers and economy
Critics say the restrictions are creating uncertainty for families and workers waiting to enter the United States and may affect the country’s global competitiveness.

“The Trump administration is using the power of the federal bureaucracy to grind the system to a halt, at least with respect to the people that are from countries that the administration finds to be dis-favorable,” said Jorge Loweree of the American Immigration Council.

Supporters of tighter controls argue that limiting visas benefits domestic workers and wages. “It’s good for employers if immigrants flood in, which is why they lobby for it. But it’s not so great for US workers,” said Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

“There seems to be this assumption that if foreign workers are not here, their economic output will simply disappear. In most cases, those jobs would be filled by other workers, very often earning higher wages.”

Overall, the data points to a continued decline in legal immigration, shaped by policy decisions and administrative changes in the United States.