As India-US tensions rise over trade, with Washington imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods amid disputes on Russian oil and farm sector access, government-backed associations are now targeting one of the most visible aspects of bilateral ties: international education.
Just last week, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the economic wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological arm of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, called on Indian students to resist the “temptation” of studying in the US or abroad altogether.
“We have launched a campaign against foreign companies and goods as the US and other countries are becoming more and more protectionist and blocking exports using tariff walls and non-tariff barriers,” SJM co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said, according to media reports.
Moreover, former Indian ambassador to the US, Arun Kumar Singh, also advised students to consider alternatives beyond the US, citing tighter F-1 visa rules and delays in new appointments.
Undergraduate students and families are looking at backup options like the UK, Australia, and Europe when US slots aren’t available
Nikhil Jain, ForeignAdmits
Although Indian students remain the largest international cohort in the US, with over 330,000 enrolled last year, Indian consultancies reported a 70-80% drop in outbound traffic, with many students also struggling to secure visa appointments in time for their classes.
With F-1 visas issued to Indian students falling 44% in H1 2025 to 14,700, down from a peak of 30,854 in H1 2023, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers last month urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address visa delays before the academic year begins.
Education has emerged as a stronghold in India-US relations over the years, with US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocating for greater international academic collaborations, joint/dual degrees, the establishment of joint centres of excellence, and offshore campuses during their first meeting at the White House since Trump’s second term.
While tariffs are expected to hit Indian exporters, particularly in textiles, garments, and pharma, and could even push millions into poverty, as per reports, the impact of India-US tensions on students is less pronounced, though not entirely absent.
“Concerns about studying in the US are understandable given the political climate and ongoing debate around immigration,” Namita Mehta, president of The Red Pen, told The PIE News.
“The geopolitical environment is fluid, and no one can predict how the situation will evolve in the coming years. What we emphasise is preparation.”
Mehta, who assists students with applications for US undergraduate and MBA programs, noted that despite current uncertainties around studying in the US, most of their students secured visas on time this academic year without major hurdles and emphasised the importance of focusing on “long-term goals rather than immediate noise”.
“The undergraduate US application process is the most rigorous and multifaceted. By preparing for it, students also equip themselves to apply successfully to universities elsewhere, giving them flexibility and the ability to make an informed choice at the time of enrolment,” stated Mehta.
“In the MBA space, while some European options remain of interest, the US continues to be the top choice for our market.”
Though Trump has previously said international students, especially those from India and China, should be given green cards and encouraged to stay, policies paint a different picture, with stricter vetting and demands to shorten durations on F-1 and J-1 visas making it harder for them to study in the country.
According to Nikhil Jain, founder and CEO, ForeignAdmits, which runs an AI-powered US F-1 visa interview prep platform, VisaMonk, securing visa appointments has become a major challenge for Indian students, forcing many to reconsider their study abroad plans.
“Undergraduate students and families are looking at backup options like the UK, Australia, and Europe when US slots aren’t available. The high costs plus current delays are making them rethink. Graduate students are sticking with the US more, though some are also considering Europe for better work opportunities after graduation,” stated Jain.
However, Jain added that while students are now seeking more personalised interview preparation in response to the stricter US visa process, stakeholders such as universities and lenders are also adapting.
“Many schools are offering flexible start dates and partnering with universities for the programs that begin in other countries and have a pathway to US. We tell students to think long-term. The US still offers the best job outcomes and global recognition, which makes current challenges worth it.”
But according to Sahil Mhatre, an Artificial Intelligence engineer currently working in the US, who previously studied at Syracuse University in New York, students and graduates are facing problems not only on the academic front but also on the professional side.
“The job market is currently struggling. For example, in New York City—one of the largest hubs after California—only about 1,000 new job openings were recorded in the first half of 2025, compared to 50,000+ in previous years. This is disproportionately small when compared to the large number of incoming students, especially from India,” stated Mhatre.
Policies like the H-1B visa and Optional Practical Training (OPT), which have long helped international graduates, especially Indians in the US, stay and work in the country, have also come under intense opposition, particularly since Trump’s second term, as many of his supporters allege that such policies undercut opportunities for US citizens.
“Companies are becoming more hesitant to sponsor international students due to changing H-1B rules and federal regulations, giving preference to citizens and green card holders. As a result, international students face reduced opportunities, and the traditional pathway of studying and then working in the US is no longer as secure,” he added.
While many US universities, particularly mid-sized and private institutions, remain confident about their strategy in India, The PIE has learned that they are struggling with students’ growing reliance on agents and third-party providers for visa support.
The US Mission in India, however, is addressing this head-on, recently cautioning students against relying on such approaches when arranging their visa applications.
“If you use a facilitator to book an appointment and the information on your visa application is false or fake (such as your phone number and email address), the embassy/consulate reserves the right to cancel your appointment. Avoid third-party interference and added fees,” read a statement by the US Consulate General in Mumbai.
“The real problem isn’t that the US is bad,” said Jain. “It’s that some students use study visas just to immigrate, and this has been accelerated by a few pools of agencies and aggregators to bump up enrolment numbers”.
“The government warning is needed and should have come sooner. These third-party services take advantage of desperate students instead of fixing real problems. The real fix needs the embassy to act – either create more slots or change how booking works. Until then, this underground market will keep going despite warnings,” he added.
