Recent data from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs shows a clear drop in the number of Nepali citizens receiving U.S. student and visitor visas in March 2025. This decline highlights broader trends driven by stricter U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration, affecting both visa categories.
In March 2025, only 761 Nepali students received F-1 student visas—a decrease from 802 in February 2025, which was the highest monthly number in the current fiscal year. Additionally, 36 dependents were issued F-2 visas. For comparison, January 2025 saw 750 F-1 visas issued, while earlier months recorded lower totals: 616 in December 2024, 167 in November 2024, and 712 in October 2024. Although March’s numbers dipped slightly from February, they remained among the top monthly figures of the fiscal year.
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Fiscal year 2024 was a standout year for Nepali students, with 13,187 F-1 visas granted—more than double the total from fiscal year 2023. According to the ICE SEVIS report, 16,933 Nepali students are currently studying in the U.S., including 10,430 males and 6,503 females. This shows a decline from 20,153 students in January 2024 and from the peak of 23,435 recorded in March 2024.
The number of U.S. visitor visas (B-1/B-2) granted to Nepalis also dropped sharply in March 2025. Only 1,550 people received these visas, compared to 1,838 in February and 2,150 in January. While March’s figure surpassed the December 2024 total of 1,190, it was still lower than November 2024 (1,632) and October 2024 (1,669). The tougher immigration policies under President Donald Trump’s administration are seen as a major factor behind the declining approval rates.
In fiscal year 2024, the visitor visa approval rate for Nepali applicants fell to 50.5%, down from 69% in fiscal year 2023. Out of 48,100 applicants in 2024, around 24,309 were approved, while 49.5% were denied. In contrast, fiscal year 2022 saw an 80% approval rate with 18,245 of 22,729 applicants approved, and in 2021 under the Biden administration, the approval rate reached 81%, with 7,128 of 8,773 applicants receiving visas—largely due to relaxed policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visa rejection rates for Nepali applicants have long been a concern. In 2020, during the Trump administration, only 51.9% of roughly 15,000 Nepali visitor visa applicants were approved. Approval rates were even lower in previous years: 50.7% in 2019, 51.5% in 2018, and 46.4% in 2017. By contrast, the Biden administration’s early years saw record-high approval rates, peaking in 2021.
