New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- Beyond tariffs, perhaps the issue that has defined the current US administration is immigration. Since reclaiming office in January, President Donald Trump has intensified the hardline policies on US borders and visas.

The crackdown itself is not new. The Joe Biden administration, too, had tightened rules in response to public unease over high immigration, but under Trump, the pitch of restrictions has grown sharper. This has impacted many Indian aspirants with the American dream. Mint explores the latest trends in US visa issuances.

The hardest hit among US visa seekers are prospective students to the world's largest economy. The number of US F-1 student visas issued to Indians fell by 31.2% year-on-year to just 1...