Adarsh Khandelwal
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In a recent call, I spoke with a student from Mumbai who had just been denied a US student visa — despite an Ivy League admit, full funding, and a spotless academic record. The reason? “Potential immigration intent.” No explanation. No second chance.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case — it’s the new normal.
As someone who has spent nearly two decades helping students around the world access top-tier education, I'm witnessing a dangerous shift: America, once the epicenter of academic opportunity, is now sending a different message - you’re not welcome here.
Columbia & Harvard: The campus crackdown
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Late 2024 saw student-led protests erupt at Columbia University, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and institutional divestment from Israeli-linked companies. These demonstrations sparked national outrage particularly among conservative lawmakers and pro-Israel groups who accused the university of allowing “anti-Semitic hate speech” to flourish.
In early 2025, the Trump administration responded with a formal investigation, citing potential Title VI violations for failing to protect Jewish students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon even threatened to strip Columbia of its federal funding and accreditation: a move seen by many legal experts as political overreach aimed at silencing campus dissent.
Harvard didn’t fare any better. After student groups released a statement criticizing Israeli policy, the university found itself under federal scrutiny. Trump officials questioned not just free speech on campus, but also Harvard’s DEI programs and alleged “left-wing indoctrination.” Civil rights lawsuits are being considered. Anti-terrorism statutes are being explored.
The message is clear: campuses are being punished not for lawbreaking, but for ideological divergence.
Visas: A bureaucratic wall
Meanwhile, outside these campuses, international students are struggling just to get in.
According to the 2025 INTO Global Survey, 28% of South Asian students, including many from India, cited visa processing delays as their top challenge. In major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai, wait times stretch 180 to 300 days, causing students to miss orientations, housing deadlines, and even entire semesters.
Despite advocacy from leading bodies like NAFSA and the American Council on Education, the US government has yet to reinstate the COVID-era interview waiver program. Consular staffing remains unchanged, even as Indian students now make up the second-largest international student population in the U.S. (over 270,000 in 2024).
Add to this the alarming rise in F-1 visa rejection rates — 36% globally in 2023 — with disproportionately higher rejections in India, Nigeria, and the Middle East. Many denials are issued to students with admits from top-ranked universities, often under vague justifications like “intent to immigrate.”
This isn’t due diligence. It’s systemic gatekeeping.
From your feed to your future
In April 2025, the Trump administration added another layer of scrutiny: mandatory social media vetting for all F, M, and J visa applicants.
Consular officers are now directed to examine five years of social media activity. Applicants have been penalized for:
Revocations without recourse
Perhaps most alarming is the surge in SEVIS deactivations and visa revocations. In early 2025 alone, over 1,300 international students — largely from China and the Middle East — had their valid US visas retroactively cancelled, often due to alleged links to institutions tied to the Chinese government.
No appeal process. No compensation. Just abrupt exits and lost semesters.
Indian students aren’t yet targeted, but the anxiety is palpable. In an increasingly unstable geopolitical climate, one controversial post or political affiliation could be enough to unravel years of academic planning.
What’s at stake
Top faculty at MIT have raised the alarm: “We’re training the best minds in the world only to lose them to other nations because they feel unwelcome or unsafe here.”
They’re right.
Students are already choosing Canada, Australia, and Europe — countries rolling out fast-track visas, transparent policies, and public commitments to international education. America’s loss is their gain.
Universities are fighting back. Institutions are launching legal aid clinics, financial support for disrupted students, and workshops on rights and documentation. Advocacy groups are lobbying hard for transparency and reform.
But time is running out.
The US must decide whether it wants to remain the beacon of global education — or watch that light dim, student by student, dream by dream.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case — it’s the new normal.
As someone who has spent nearly two decades helping students around the world access top-tier education, I'm witnessing a dangerous shift: America, once the epicenter of academic opportunity, is now sending a different message - you’re not welcome here.
Columbia & Harvard: The campus crackdown
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Late 2024 saw student-led protests erupt at Columbia University, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and institutional divestment from Israeli-linked companies. These demonstrations sparked national outrage particularly among conservative lawmakers and pro-Israel groups who accused the university of allowing “anti-Semitic hate speech” to flourish.
In early 2025, the Trump administration responded with a formal investigation, citing potential Title VI violations for failing to protect Jewish students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon even threatened to strip Columbia of its federal funding and accreditation: a move seen by many legal experts as political overreach aimed at silencing campus dissent.
Harvard didn’t fare any better. After student groups released a statement criticizing Israeli policy, the university found itself under federal scrutiny. Trump officials questioned not just free speech on campus, but also Harvard’s DEI programs and alleged “left-wing indoctrination.” Civil rights lawsuits are being considered. Anti-terrorism statutes are being explored.
The message is clear: campuses are being punished not for lawbreaking, but for ideological divergence.
Visas: A bureaucratic wall
Meanwhile, outside these campuses, international students are struggling just to get in.
According to the 2025 INTO Global Survey, 28% of South Asian students, including many from India, cited visa processing delays as their top challenge. In major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai, wait times stretch 180 to 300 days, causing students to miss orientations, housing deadlines, and even entire semesters.
Despite advocacy from leading bodies like NAFSA and the American Council on Education, the US government has yet to reinstate the COVID-era interview waiver program. Consular staffing remains unchanged, even as Indian students now make up the second-largest international student population in the U.S. (over 270,000 in 2024).
Add to this the alarming rise in F-1 visa rejection rates — 36% globally in 2023 — with disproportionately higher rejections in India, Nigeria, and the Middle East. Many denials are issued to students with admits from top-ranked universities, often under vague justifications like “intent to immigrate.”
This isn’t due diligence. It’s systemic gatekeeping.
From your feed to your future
In April 2025, the Trump administration added another layer of scrutiny: mandatory social media vetting for all F, M, and J visa applicants.
Consular officers are now directed to examine five years of social media activity. Applicants have been penalized for:
- Sharing anti-war posts.
- Supporting campus protests.
- Liking or following pages critical of US foreign policy.
Revocations without recourse
Perhaps most alarming is the surge in SEVIS deactivations and visa revocations. In early 2025 alone, over 1,300 international students — largely from China and the Middle East — had their valid US visas retroactively cancelled, often due to alleged links to institutions tied to the Chinese government.
No appeal process. No compensation. Just abrupt exits and lost semesters.
Indian students aren’t yet targeted, but the anxiety is palpable. In an increasingly unstable geopolitical climate, one controversial post or political affiliation could be enough to unravel years of academic planning.
What’s at stake
Top faculty at MIT have raised the alarm: “We’re training the best minds in the world only to lose them to other nations because they feel unwelcome or unsafe here.”
They’re right.
Students are already choosing Canada, Australia, and Europe — countries rolling out fast-track visas, transparent policies, and public commitments to international education. America’s loss is their gain.
Universities are fighting back. Institutions are launching legal aid clinics, financial support for disrupted students, and workshops on rights and documentation. Advocacy groups are lobbying hard for transparency and reform.
But time is running out.
The US must decide whether it wants to remain the beacon of global education — or watch that light dim, student by student, dream by dream.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
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