The US student visa rejection rate for Indian applicants has reached an alarming 61%, marking the highest level in recent years. This increase is attributed to heightened policy restrictions and more rigorous vetting processes, including mandatory examinations of applicants' online activities. In contrast, European applicants face a mere 9% rejection rate. Indian students represent nearly 30% of all international enrolments in the US and are crucial to graduate-level STEM programs, holding 75% of H-1B visas in the tech sector. However, enrolments have dropped significantly, with a 9.5% decline for the 2024/25 academic year and an overall decrease of 28% in the past year. Experts warn that many students overestimate the job prospects and returns from studying abroad, leading to a reassessment of their educational investments. This decline in enrolments could cost American universities between $3 billion and $8.6 billion in revenue, impacting research and laboratory capacities.