China received twice as many US student visas as India this August: Is the American dream fading for Indian students?

China received more than twice the number of US student visas as India this August, amid a 19% overall drop in international student arrivals. Visa pauses, new vetting procedures, and travel bans under the Trump administration have disrupted Indian student enrolment, while China’s numbers remained steadier. Rising costs and political uncertainty have also deterred applicants, prompting some students to explore alternatives in Europe and Asia, signalling a shift in global education trends.