Recently, there has been a lot of talk online about a new H-1B visa rule, with many headlines predicting bad news for international students, especially those from India.
As Trump administration decided to increase the application fee for H-1B visa to $100k, many are worried if this would affect the students who are migrating to the US. Netizens are now discussing why one should move to the US for studies.
What the new H-1B rule means for students?
The new H-1B rule does not target students. It is aimed at employers. Specifically, it is trying to stop certain companies from misusing the H-1B system by hiring foreign workers from outside the US between September 2025 and September 2026.
For Indian students, whether you are already in the US or planning to go there for your studies, this rule won’t be an issue. If you are on an F-1 visa or planning to join a STEM program, you are in the clear.
Will it affect F-1 students?
If you are already in the US on an F-1 visa, or you plan to study for a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, the new rule does not change much for you.
For Master’s students, you get three years of OPT (Optional Practical Training) after graduation, which means your H-1B petition won’t come up until around 2029, after the rule expires.
For undergraduates, that timeline is even longer, stretching out until 2032. So, if you are currently in the US or planning to be, you do not need to worry about this change for a long time.
More job opportunities for students
Netizens also added that here is something even better, this rule could actually help students. Because employers will now have to pay a high fee to hire someone from outside the US, they might prefer hiring F-1 visa holders already in the country.
This means there could be more job opportunities for international students. Employers can avoid paying the extra fee and still hire highly qualified talent. This is especially good for students in high-demand fields like STEM.
The truth is, the US needs skilled workers more than ever. According to a report from Georgetown University, the country will need 5.25 million more educated workers by 2032.
That is a huge gap, and many of those workers will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Indian students, who are a major part of this skilled workforce, play a key role in filling this gap. In fact, Indian students sent back $135 billion in remittances to India last year, and that number is expected to double in the next three years.
The US benefits from this talent, and India benefits too.
US higher education system is built on the contributions of international students. Every year, international students bring $42 billion to the US economy.
Without them, US universities and colleges would struggle to stay afloat. Compared to the US government’s $430 billion spending on higher education, countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Canada combined spend just $180 billion.
‘H1B workers = uncertainty’
Netizens commented on the post. A user noted, “Employers don’t like uncertainty. Under the current administration, hiring International students or H1B workers = uncertainty.
Also, there is absolutely no clarity that the $100k fee won’t apply for folks in the 2026 lottery since USCIS and WH Press Sec mentioned it applies to all new petitions. Transfers are not new petitions.
Stop brainwashing students into this spiral of endless stress. There are other countries to build a better life too. Look into those. The US has unfortunately closed its doors.”
Another explained, “With all the assumptions being made with the news, its refreshing to see the picture from a different angle. Appreciate it!.”
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