For decades, the United States has represented hope and opportunity for young Indian students seeking quality education and lucrative careers. However, stringent immigration policies during the Trump administration have complicated this dream for many.
And, with increased visa denials, increased workplace scrutiny, and question marks over work permits, many Indian students have been driven to rethink their plans. The latest data from the U.S. State Department reveals a substantial fall in F-1 student visas issued to Indian students: from January through September 2024, 64,008 visas were issued, a 38 percent drop from 103,495 during the same period in 2023.
This is in contrast to a surge in student enrollments post-pandemic and comes at a time when the job market is turning increasingly local. Localization has made it tougher for opportunities via employer-sponsored visas. “Jobs have become elusive. I never thought things could turn this bad,” said Sai Aparna, a Master’s student in Information Systems from Cleveland, who has been unable to find a job for a year.
Students report increased scrutiny by law enforcement, including police visiting workplaces and asking to see student IDs and work authorization, particularly for students on OPT. Though students can work one year after graduation under OPT, the students who have F-1 visas are allowed to work on campus only for up to 20 hours a week. Many students violate these restrictions out of necessity.
Fears of deportation hang heavy, and students have begun to resign from their jobs. “There’s no way to take a chance with ICE personnel watching us. Working off-campus could lead to serious trouble,” said Inampudi Prashant, a student at Arizona State University.
It is all the more tough for those from not-so-well-off families. Manjusha Nuthi, a computer science graduate from Narsaraopet, said she was worried about repaying a sizeable bank loan after she lost her part-time job.
