Arab News
Kuwait times,
Wed, Oct 08, 2025 | Rabi al-Thani 16, 1447
Kuwait sees 10% annual drop in US student visas
Kuwait:
The number of student visas issued by the United
States to those coming from Kuwait fell by 10 percent in August 2025 compared
with the same month last year, according to data from the US International Trade
Administration. The drop is part of a wider trend affecting students worldwide
and reflects growing uncertainty around US immigration policies.
The tightening of student visa rules has sparked
unease among prospective Kuwaiti students. Reports of individuals being detained
at the US border for social media posts critical of US policies or expressing
support for Palestine have raised concerns about the safety and future of
students considering studying in the US. At least 40 Kuwaiti students have had
their visas revoked in 2025 alone. Reasons for the cancellations have not been
made public. According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement data, 6,508
Kuwaitis were studying in the US in 2024.
Preliminary data from the US Department of
Commerce show that 313,138 student visas were issued globally in August,
traditionally the peak month for university enrollment in the US. Overall,
student visa issuance dropped by nearly a fifth, 19.1 percent, compared to
August 2024. Indian students, the largest group of foreign students in the US,
were hit hardest, with approvals falling 44.5 percent. Chinese students also saw
declines, though less severe: 86,647 visas were issued to students from mainland
China, more than double the number issued to Indian students.
Students in the Middle East are also feeling the
squeeze. Approvals fell 17.4 percent overall, with 18,917 student visas issued
in August.
The biggest declines came for Iranian and Syrian
students, down 86 percent and 62 percent respectively, compared to last year —
the sharpest drops globally. Within the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar
experienced the steepest fall, followed by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The
United Arab Emirates bucked the trend, with a small increase of 1.2 percent.
Since returning to the White House, President
Donald Trump has made curbing immigration a top priority, targeting universities
— which his administration views as a stronghold of progressive ideology — in
the process. Since January, the administration has revoked thousands of student
visas and green cards. Many affected students were involved in campus
pro-Palestine activism or expressed support for Gaza on social media.
Authorities are relying on a Cold War-era 1952
immigration law to justify deportations, citing “serious adverse foreign policy
consequences”. In some cases, even minor infractions such as traffic violations
have been cited as grounds for visa revocation. In June, Secretary of State
Marco Rubio temporarily suspended student visa processing during a peak month,
directing embassies to vet applicants’ social media accounts. Officials
reviewing student visa applications were directed to flag any signs of
“hostility” toward the United States, including its people, culture, government,
institutions, or founding principles. US officials have defended the measures as
necessary to protect national security.