Key Facts
• May 2025: U.S. F1 student visa issuance for Japanese students dropped by 40%.
• Only 520 F1 visas were issued in May 2025, compared to 900 in previous years.
• The decline is the lowest since 2017, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years.
• Trump administration policies restricted or canceled some student visas.
• Japanese students shifted to non-U.S. destinations due to policy concerns.
• U.S. schools typically see peak visa issuance from May to August.
• A 26-year-old Japanese student checks visa appointment availability every 30 minutes.
• U.S. embassies temporarily halted visa interviews in May 2025.
• The U.S. State Department announced plans to resume appointments in mid-June 2025.
• Students face uncertainty about meeting academic deadlines and future U.S. policies.
Summary
The issuance of U.S. F1 student visas for Japanese students dropped by 40% in May 2025, with only 520 visas issued compared to 900 in previous years. This marks the lowest issuance since 2017, excluding the pandemic years. The decline is attributed to restrictive visa policies under the Trump administration, leading some Japanese students to abandon U.S. study plans or choose alternative destinations. The U.S. State Department temporarily halted visa interviews in May, causing delays and uncertainty for students, despite plans to resume appointments in mid-June. Many students, like a 26-year-old doctoral candidate, remain anxious about meeting academic deadlines and future policy changes.
