August 21, 2025: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
As Hurricane Erin gains strength today...here's what we're weathering in international student news....
Top Headlines: Dartmouth student’s visa restored, survey shows 91% still want to study in the U.S., and the State Dept. revokes 6,000+ student visas.
Scholarship Spotlight: New Mexico State offers international students in-state tuition—about three times cheaper than out-of-state rates.
By the Numbers: F-1 and J-1 visa data from May 2025 vs May 2024—Have the number of visas issued really dropped from last year?
Stay safe out there...and let's dive in!
Carrie at International Student Voice ⭐
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📰 TOP 3 HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
📋 Dartmouth Student Drops Lawsuit After Trump Administration Restores Visa Status
Dartmouth PhD student Xiaotian Liu dropped his lawsuit against the Trump administration after his F-1 student immigration status was reinstated on August 8. Liu was one of thousands of students whose SEVIS records were abruptly deleted without notice in April. Still, he was able to continue his studies after a federal court temporarily restored his status. The Trump administration reversed course in late April and announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would reinstate immigration records for international students whose records had been previously terminated. The dismissal states that "the effect of this retroactive activation is as though the termination did not happen." (The Dartmouth)
📊 Survey: International Student Demand Remains High Despite Federal Changes
A July survey of 300 foreign-born students found that 91% still plan to study in the U.S., and 99% trust the academic quality of U.S. institutions despite federal policy changes. However, 55% expressed concerns about pursuing their degree in the U.S., with international tensions/politics (54%) and political instability worries (45%) being the top reasons for changed sentiment. Experts predict potential enrollment declines of 30-40%, which could result in $7 billion in lost revenue and over 60,000 fewer jobs. Students caught in visa backlogs are deferring to the spring semester rather than switching to other countries like the U.K., Canada, or Australia. (Inside Higher Ed)
🚨 US State Department Revokes Over 6,000 Student Visas
The State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas this year as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on international students. Approximately 4,000 visas were revoked because holders "broke the law," with violations including assault, DUI, burglary, and "support for terrorism." About 200-300 visas were specifically yanked for alleged terrorism-related activities. The revocations come as the administration has implemented new vetting requirements, asking applicants to make social media profiles public and screening for "hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles." (CNN)
🎓 FEATURED SCHOLARSHIP
New Mexico State University International Competitive Scholarship
This scholarship offers qualifying international students a significant discount - allowing them to pay in-state tuition instead of out-of-state tuition (which is about 3 times lower), plus a $100 cash stipend each fall and spring semester. The award is based on your GPA and TOEFL/IELTS scores and is renewable for up to 8 semesters for undergraduates or 4 semesters for master's students. We help international students apply to universities and colleges around the US - learn more about booking our services.
🔍 INTERESTING FIND
🏛️ New Poll: Americans are Disappointed in the Country's Leadership
A major new survey reveals that 85% of Americans believe government officials care more about their own power than what's best for the people, signaling a widespread leadership crisis across multiple sectors. The poll found that 87% of Americans believe there's a leadership crisis in public service - the highest among all sectors surveyed. Trust levels vary dramatically: while 67% trust the Supreme Court, only 47% trust the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress, and 52% trust Democrats in Congress. The survey also revealed that 75% of Americans say political leaders have too much power, with only 31% rating them as trustworthy - among the lowest of all leadership categories. (US News & World Report)
News in 1 Sentence
ASU News reports Arizona State University welcomed 14,600 international students this fall, down 3% from last year due to visa appointment challenges, though the university provided flexibility with online options and extended deadlines.
Forbes highlights that many U.S. colleges face potential closure without international students and immigrants, as these populations provide crucial enrollment numbers and revenue streams that keep institutions financially viable.
Reuters reports Belgian Princess Elisabeth will resume her Harvard studies after the Trump administration's foreign student ban was blocked by federal courts, allowing her to continue her international relations program.
The Harvard Crimson announced that Harvard Kennedy School canceled its HKS Global online contingency program for international students due to low demand, leaving fewer options for students still awaiting visas.
DEEP DIVE: IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
A Closer Look: F-1 and J-1 Visa Data 2025 vs. 2024
I decided to do something a bit different this week.
The US Department of State shares how many visas it issues each month, including non-immigrant visas like F-1 and J-1 visas. I thought it would be interesting to see where the numbers stand right now compared to last year....
Especially since many organizations are predicting considerable decreases in the number of international students this upcoming year. And oftentimes, the number of visas issued can be an indicator of how numbers will shake out for the year.
The most recent data available is from May 2025, so I compared the numbers to May 2024.
First...let's look at the F-1 visa data*.
I highlighted in yellow the nationalities that have seen any increase from last year.
Largest % decrease May 2025 v. May 2024
Nepal -46%
India -41%
Italy -39%
Largest drop in absolute numbers
India (6,984 from 11,829) -41%
China (14,409 from 16,987) -15%
Nepal (818 from 1,505) -46%
Again, I highlighted in yellow the nationalities that have seen any increase from last year.
Largest % decrease May 2025 v. May 2024
Dominican Republic -47%
Japan -40%
Thailand -39%
Largest drop in absolute numbers
Colombia (1,967 from 2,992) -34%
Jamaica (1,741 from 2,539) -31%
Turkey (1,542 from 2,254) -32%
In Summary:
F-1 visas: 45,364 issued in May 2025 vs. 58,053 in May 2024.
J-1 visas: 49,169 issued in May 2025 vs 56,261 in May 2024.
Granted, this is just a snapshot comparison of one month from 2025 and 2024, but yes, overall visa issuance numbers are down.
It will be interesting to see the visa issuance numbers from June and July...I'm sure it's taking a while to tally because the summer months are often the busiest...plus the pause in visa interviews reportedly caused backlogs.
Every November, the Institute of International Education (IIE) publishes its Open Door Report, which provides in-depth data about the number of international students in the US. This report is always a year behind so it can accurately report the numbers, so this November we'll see data from 2024-2025.
But the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) releases a report called SEVIS by the Numbers on a quarterly basis. The last update was in June 2025, so we should see a report on how fall 2025 is shaping up.
I'll plan to add updated visa issuance numbers in the newsletter when available.
Anything in the data that surprised you? Maybe not? Email me at info@istudentvoice.com and let me know!
*US Department of State data may change later to improve accuracy.
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Disclaimer: International Student Voice is not an immigration attorney or immigration advisor. The purpose of this newsletter is strictly educational. Always consult with qualified legal counsel for advice specific to your situation.