Now Reading: Trump visa curbs hit Indian students, H-1B workers hardest
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Trump visa curbs hit Indian students, H-1B workers hardest
The Trump administration's suspension of visa appointments and tighter immigration rules are creating uncertainty for Indian students and skilled workers, says immigration consultant and author Rajkamal Rao. He told The Federal that…
The Trump administration's suspension of visa appointments and tighter immigration rules are creating uncertainty for Indian students and skilled workers, says immigration consultant and author Rajkamal Rao. He told The Federal that even small regulatory changes disproportionately affect Indians because they form the largest cohort of US visa applicants. India sends 130,000 to 140,000 students annually, and Indians account for 71-72% of all H-1B visas.
Rao highlighted a key change from September 16: the end of "duration of status" (D/S) for F-1 visa holders. Previously, students could delay graduation by extending coursework while job-hunting, then seamlessly move to Optional Practical Training (OPT). Without D/S, that flexibility is gone. Rao warns that the American dream of studying, working and settling in the US may be ending for many Indians.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The end of D/S removes a long-used safety valve that let students stay enrolled while seeking employment. Under the US Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), this rule change tightens the link between academic completion and visa status. For Indian students, who made up over 29% of international enrolments in 2023-24 per the Open Doors report, the practical impact could be a surge in visa overstay cases if graduates cannot find H-1B sponsors within the shorter window. The next date to watch is October 1, when the H-1B cap-subject petitions for fiscal year 2026 become active.
Source: thefederal.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
