As immigration rules tighten and uncertainty grows around the H-1B visa, many Indian students are finding themselves questioning a dream that once felt certain, studying and building a career in the United States.
A viral social media post summed up what a lot of young Indians are feeling right now. The user wrote, “The US still feels like the dream — the kind of exposure, campus life, and opportunities you get there just hit different. But then every other day there’s some new visa drama or random policy change, and it makes you wonder if it’s even worth all the stress anymore.”
With countries like Canada, the UK, and Germany opening more doors for international students, the competition for Indian talent is fierce.
As the post put it, “Every other country seems to be saying, ‘Hey, Indians, come here! We’ve got jobs, stay options, and fewer hoops to jump through.’”
Still, the uncertainty remains. Even with new opportunities abroad, the user admitted feeling torn: “Every country’s got its own set of issues,” the post concluded. “It’s honestly hard to figure out what’s the right move anymore.”
In recent times, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which would now require companies to pay $100k application fee for every H-1B visa. This was introduced to reduce the “abuse” of the visa system.
“This is highly relatable”
Netizens posted their comments on this post. A user noted,” I totally get you, I’m in the same headspace right now. One day, I’m like, “US all the way, the exposure and campus life are unmatched,” and the next, I’m panicking over all the visa updates and random policy changes. It really feels like a gamble sometimes.”
Another added, “If your funding your study abroad with a loan, the ROI on all western options is a gamble, with the odds against you.”
“The crackdown on Indian immigration is just beginning. The hatred among the American youth is deep and they will be the lawmakers of tomorrow. Just stay in India,” opined a netizen.
“The greater problem is that the job market is really poor at the moment, and this is not exclusively in the US. You’d be better off considering a spot where tuition is more affordable or even free,” stated a user.
“Nothing has changed for F1 to H1 visa status transition. The 100k fees doesn’t apply. In fact now there are fewer students so you’ll have much less competition. The only risk is AI taking all jobs, but that’s a risk in every country,” claimed a netizen.
(This story is based on a post shared by a social media user. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.)