For decades, the United States has been a land of endless possibilities for young Indian students seeking world-class education and high-paying career opportunities. However, amidst stringent immigration policies under the administration of President Donald Trump, the American dream of many has become a challenging test.
With visa rejection on growth, the increase in investigation at workplaces and uncertainty on the work permit under Trump Administration, many Indian students are forced to rethink their aspirations.
Visa troubles
In the previous year, there has been a significant decline in the number of F -1 student visa issued by the United States to Indian students. According to an analysis of data from the US State Department, 64,008 Indian students were granted visas from January to September 2024, which is a 38 percent decline compared to 1,03,495 during the same period in 2023.
The data marked the first significant decline after an increase in student enrollment after the epidemic. Students are also concerned about shrinking job markets that now favor the new immigration system with a new immigration system that bypasses international students.
The students said that since President Trump took over, his stress on localization has made visa sponsorship more difficult by employers. Ohio told The Hindu, “The job has become elusive. I never thought that things could change this bad.”
Ms. Aparna, who chased a master in information systems in the US, is actively looking for a job for the last one year, but in vain.
Investigation increased at workplace
Many Indian students studying in the US complained about the increased investigation from law enforcement agencies, “Officers in uniform” demanding visiting their workplaces and looking at their students’ IDs or investigating their work authority documents – if They are on alternative practical training (opt).
An opt – initially released for the period of the college after one year – allows students to work for the prescribed period. On the F1 visa, those people are allowed to work only 20 hours a week in on-campus jobs. However, youths living away from home often break the cap to earn and earn extra money at this time.
The recent restrictions imposed on off-campus part-time jobs have barely hit a large part of international students.
“Last week, the officers came in and started questioning the employees in the restaurant, where I work for six hours every day after college. He asked for my college ID. Fortunately, I was coming out of the toilet, so I told them that I was just there to use the facility.
Another student chasing a master in computer science in New Jersey told publishing that he was told about his visa status and student ID, while he was at work at a local gas station. He said, “My employer, who belongs to my hometown in Nalgonda (Telangana), intervened and told him that I was a distant relative and came to America only for public intake,” he said.
Students are leaving their jobs with the officials hanging on their heads with a sword of exile.
“There is no way that we can think of taking a chance because snow workers are on prols all the time, and we have learned that they are not in the mood to listen to any excuse. We are in deep trouble, and us Can be deported, “The Hindu, a student of Arizona State University, reported.
The situation has become a cause of concern for many people, especially coming from a low privileged background.
“My father is a farmer, and I can’t take the risk of asking him for any more money. I cut the corners to do with minimal resources here,” Manjasha Nuththi said, who is a college from a college in Narsopat Computer Science is a bachelor’s. Ms. Nuthi, who used to work part -time at a gas station, as she is on an F1 visa, she had to resign in a large scale.
He said, “I have a bank loan of Rs 30 lakh to clarify and in this scenario, I have no clue how I will be able to do it,” he said.
