A bureaucratic visa bottleneck has left thousands of Indian students stranded ahead of the Fall 2025 semester, as U.S. consulates in India slash appointment slots amid new digital vetting rules. Despite bipartisan pressure on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore processing, the crisis threatens U.S.–India educational ties, economic contributions, and America’s global image as a welcoming academic destination.
US visa logjam: Indian students stuck in the waiting room; will Marco Rubio open the door?
