Texas universities could lose international students amid immigration crackdown

Texas universities are bracing for a sharp drop in international students for the 2025–2026 academic year after a wave of federal actions triggered visa processing disruptions during the most important months for fall arrivals. From May 27 to June 18, 2025, the U.S. government paused student visa interviews, then resumed them under tougher screening rules that instruct consulates to expand social media checks and restore appointment supply fast—yet many posts still show little to no availability. At the same time, an executive order signed June 4 placed visa limits on nationals from 19 countries, with talk of dozens more possibly being added, intensifying an immigration crackdown that campuses say is already chilling demand.

With Texas hosting about 8% of the United States 🇺🇸 international student population, higher education leaders warn that missed interviews now could translate into thousands of empty seats in August.

Visa issuance trends and immediate data

Visa issuance data underscore the slide:

• F-1 approvals fell 12% from January through April 2025 compared with the same months in 2024.
• Approvals dropped another 22% in May year over year.
• Early June figures point to an 80–90% plunge, according to campus and consular reports shared with Texas institutions.

Though interviews restarted June 18, applicants across India, China, Nigeria, and Japan still report scarce or nonexistent slots—especially damaging for Texas because those countries are major sending markets for the state’s universities. Analysis by VisaVerge.com shows the summer backlog hits precisely when student demand peaks, leaving applicants squeezed between campus reporting deadlines and a narrowing interview calendar.

Policy backdrop and federal actions

The policy landscape shifted quickly under President Trump’s administration, which moved to more aggressive screening of international students and revoked visas for some Chinese nationals amid national security and intellectual property concerns.

• The June interview pause was paired with new social media reviews and a directive to consulates to clear appointment backlogs within five days of reopening.
• Despite these directives, posts from Asia and Africa still show limited capacity weeks later.
• The June 4 executive order established visa limits on 19 countries, and rumors suggest up to 36 more could be added.

Higher education groups say the combined pressure—policy shifts, slower processing, and country-specific bans—has injected unusual uncertainty into what is normally the final confirmation window for visas and travel.

Policy developments and visa processing (detailed)

The most immediate shock came when consulates stopped student interviews from May 27 to June 18, 2025, prime season for Fall admits who must arrive in Texas with passports stamped and Form I‑20 or Form DS‑2019 documents checked at the border.

• Even after interviews resumed, bottlenecks in India, China, Nigeria, and Japan conflict with campus orientations and first-day class rules.
• University international offices advise students to keep trying for openings, track consulate announcements, and contact campus staff if travel will slip past reporting dates.

For official visa guidance, the State Department maintains a student visa portal at U.S. Department of State — Study and Exchange Visas, which outlines interview steps and current policies. Background on the required university-issued documents is available at:

• Study in the States: Form I‑20
• DS‑2019 overview

Texas institutions are pushing status updates to students by email and portal notices to help manage the timing of I‑20/DS‑2019 issuance and consulate scheduling.

Texas’ international student footprint

Texas hosts about 8% of all international students nationwide, ranking third after California and New York. The state relies on steady cohorts from India, China, South Korea, Nigeria, and Japan.

Representative campus figures:

NAFSA and JB International modeling shows how deep the damage could run if the summer slump persists:

• A 30–40% drop in new international student enrollment this fall would push a 15% overall decline nationwide.
• NAFSA estimates a $7 billion revenue loss and more than 60,000 jobs at risk across the country under that scenario.
• Texas universities expect losses in the hundreds of millions with thousands of campus and local jobs tied to student spending.

STEM master’s and Ph.D. programs are particularly exposed because international students often fill research assistant and lab worker roles.

Impact on campuses and local communities

The slowdown collides with daily campus planning:

• Residence halls have reserved beds for first‑year international students who may arrive late or not at all.
• Departments must decide whether to hold funded spots open through add/drop windows.
• University health and counseling centers are preparing to support students facing travel uncertainty and stress.

Local economic effects:

• Landlords, restaurants, and small businesses in college towns—where international students rent apartments, buy cars, and eat out year‑round—say even a short‑term dip would affect earnings.

Operational and academic consequences:

• Admissions teams report more requests for spring deferrals, program-start changes, or online options if visas do not arrive.
• Graduate coordinators in engineering and computer science warn that late arrivals can force labs to slow projects or push milestones.
• Faculty relying on international research talent fear that country-level bans (current for 19 nations, with talk of 36 more) will shrink applicant pools and limit international collaboration.

Supporters of tighter screening cite national security risks, theft of research, and concerns around campus unrest, defending added social media vetting. Opponents argue that sweeping restrictions and sudden pauses harm the country’s scientific edge by keeping out scholars who power labs, startups, and core teaching in math and science.

What Texas applicants should do now

International offices across Texas are sharing practical steps to reduce risk while the policy picture evolves:

1. Watch official posts
   • Check consulate websites daily for new interview slots.
   • Follow your university’s international office updates.
2. Know program dates
   • Confirm orientation dates and the last day to report for your program to avoid losing your place.
3. Keep documents ready
   • Bring your passport, university‑issued Form I‑20 or Form DS‑2019, and proof of funding to your interview.
4. If delays persist
   • Email your department and international office to ask about late arrival possibilities or shifting to spring admission.
5. Track policy changes
   • Advocacy groups and university associations are pressing for restored capacity; sudden openings can appear when consulates add staff.

For specific campus guidance, see:
– UT Austin international office: https://global.utexas.edu/about/reports-statistics
– Texas A&M guidance for freshmen: https://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/international/international-freshman
– Texas State steps for applicants: https://mycatalog.txstate.edu/undergraduate/general-information/admissions/international/

Admissions timelines, fees, and requirements

The admissions clock keeps ticking despite the visa traffic jam.

• UT Austin opens Summer/Fall 2026 applications on August 1, 2025.
  • Early Action deadline: October 15, 2025
  • Regular deadline: December 1, 2025
• Texas A&M opens Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 cycles on August 1, 2025.
  • Deadlines: October 15 and December 1
• Application fees range $75–$90; universities say waivers are not offered to international applicants.
• Applicants must show English proficiency and submit certified school records; some programs require additional tests or portfolios.
• Once admitted, students receive I‑20 or DS‑2019 records and should schedule visa interviews as soon as consulates open slots.

Officials caution that appointment supply remains tight in India, China, Nigeria, and Japan, despite orders to restore capacity within five days.

Personal impacts and anecdotes

Behind the numbers lie thousands of timelines:

• An admitted master’s student from India applied early, received an I‑20, and booked a June slot that was canceled during the pause. By June 18, the next available interview was weeks away and flight prices had risen.
• A lab in College Station expecting a Ph.D. hire from China may face similar hurdles if bans or vetting slow approvals—creating gaps in teaching assignments and research timelines.

Such stories are now common in admissions offices, student groups, and research departments trying to plan for the first weeks of class.

Ongoing policy uncertainty and advocacy

The June 4 executive order limiting visas for 19 countries continues to ripple through recruitment. University systems report a lack of clarity about how future lists could grow—rumors suggest as many as 36 more countries could be named—making scholarship budgeting and research staffing forecasts difficult.

For now, Texas leaders are urging the federal government to:

• Restore normal interview volume worldwide.
• Prioritize student cases canceled during the three‑week pause.
• Provide clear, public timelines to reopen calendars in major sending countries and expand staffing where backlogs persist.

Higher education associations, including NAFSA, have requested transparent timelines and staffing increases to reduce backlogs.

Key takeaway: The combination of the interview suspension (May 27–June 18), steep year‑over‑year declines (12% through April, 22% in May, 80–90% in early June), and the executive order on June 4 could lead to substantially fewer international students on Texas campuses this fall. Texas campuses will feel the impact in classrooms, labs, and in the local economies that depend on student spending.

Final practical notes for prospective students

• Plan ahead for I‑20 or DS‑2019 issuance and book interviews as soon as you receive case numbers.
• Maintain regular contact with advisors and international offices.
• Prepare for social media vetting and ensure documents proving funding and academic credentials are certified and ready.
• If government capacity rebounds, students who act promptly and stay informed will have the best chance to arrive on time.

Universities say they will adjust admissions targets and financial plans if restrictions expand, but no large policy reversals had been announced as of August 26, 2025. Texas A&M, UT Austin, and Texas State stress that non‑U.S. citizens or permanent residents must apply as international students, pay stated fees, meet English and academic documentation rules, and follow campus instructions to secure I‑20/DS‑2019 records and schedule visa interviews.