Summary
A report shows that U.S. visa approvals dropped in 2025 since President Donald Trump took office again. New policies, including a travel ban and increased vetting procedures, have led to fewer visas being issued for permanent residents, students, and workers, particularly affecting citizens from countries like India and China.
Key Facts
- U.S. visa approvals decreased by 11% in 2025 compared to the same time in 2024.
- A travel ban on 19 countries, mostly majority-Muslim, was set up in June 2025.
- Visa approvals for citizens of India and China declined by 84,000.
- There were fewer student visa interviews and increased vetting of social media accounts.
- Permanent residency visa numbers fell, especially for certain workers and people from the Philippines, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
- Business and tourism visas dropped by 200,000 or 3.4% compared to the previous year.
- The report said it's not clear how much the policies or anti-immigrant rhetoric reduced visa applications.
- More people left the U.S. than entered in 2025, the first time this happened in 50 years.
