Number of Nepali Students in U.S. Falls by 2,000 in Four Months

The number of active Nepali students in the United States has fallen by 2,001 over four months, according to Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data, with the total dropping from 34,853 in March 2026 to 32,852 in July 2026.

SEVIS Data Shows Sharp Monthly Declines

SEVIS figures, maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), show that the decline accelerated over the spring and early summer. The active count stood at 34,680 in April 2026, fell to 34,366 in May, and then dropped to 33,758 in June, before reaching 32,852 in July 2026.

Month-to-month, the drop was 314 students from April to May, 608 from May to June, and 906 from June to July, according to the data.

What SEVIS Record Terminations Mean

SEVIS is the federal system that tracks international students and exchange visitors in the F and M visa categories. When a SEVIS record is terminated, the student’s immigration status is no longer considered active, and they generally cannot remain in the U.S. to continue studying unless they are reinstated or change status.

Not every termination reflects an enforcement action or visa cancellation. Terminations also occur when students graduate, transfer schools, change programs, take authorized withdrawals, or otherwise complete or end their studies.

Nepali students have faced notable SEVIS disruptions over the past year. Reports earlier in 2025 described thousands of international students, including Nepalis, whose records were terminated and later reactivated in some cases amid broader federal data changes and policy shifts.

Even with the recent decline, Nepal remains among the largest sending countries for U.S. study. A July 2026 DHS report cited 32,852 Nepali students with active status, including 18,322 men and 14,530 women, enrolled across bachelor’s, master’s, associate, and doctoral programs.