Proposed H1B visa norms spike study plans

The air of uncertainty is more pronounced for students who are on the verge of completing their education in the US. 

Vignesh Muthukumar, who is studying Industrial Engineering at State University of New York at Binghamton, says he is anxious, as he would be graduating in a few months. “The call to bring about H1B visa regulations is gaining momentum in the United States. There is a shroud of uncertainty for many of my friends who had graduated and are currently looking for jobs. Even people who have found jobs face an uncertain future as the companies they work for pay less salary compared to the new proposed regulations,” he says. 

Indian students enter the United States on a F1 visa. Under the conditions of the visa, they are entitled to work in the US for 36 months after completing their education. In the current scenario, companies have the provision to upgrade the F1 visa to a H1B visa during the three-year period. However, if the new Bill gets passed, it is hard to predict what the future might hold.

This is not the first instance where the H1B visa has been facing the possibility of stringent legislation. However, there is a likelihood that the regulations will come to pass. 

“Bills targeting the H1B visa prop up every now and then, but never get passed in the Senate. But with Donald Trump at the helm of the country, there is a good possibility that the Bill will actually get passed this time around,” adds Vignesh Muthukumar. 

The situation has been unsettling for a number of students studying in the US. 

According to Vignesh NM, a Computer Science student studying at University of Bridgeport, “The news regarding H1B visa regulations sparked mass panic among the Indian diaspora in my college. Many people are worried that employers will be reluctant to choose Indians due to the new regulations. Gauging the tense situation on campus, the University sent us a mail assuring us that they are taking all possible steps to ensure that our futures aren’t affected. We were informed that the head of the University is currently in Washington DC to attend a meeting between the heads of major Universities to discuss the steps to tackle the situation.”

Students are now weighing their options in case the Bill gets passed.

“Currently many of them are following a wait and watch strategy. The Bill has some potentially harmful clauses but it has not been passed yet. Some students are even planning to extend their studies to get past the uncertainty that is looming over their heads. The problem is that there is no clarity on information regarding the Bill. Some people claim that the Bill will be beneficial for Indians in the form of higher salary, but others are saying that it will be a setback. People who are on the verge of graduating are on edge as the proposed Bill will immediately affect them if it gets passed,” says Vignesh NM.

The situation is also impacting on the higher education plans of students, who are now rethinking their plans to go to US. 

Rohan Parmar (27) had hoped to do his MBA in the US after finishing his Masters in Chemical Engineering. But after the proposed revisions to the H1B visa regulations, he says it is no longer feasible. “I am not interested in studying in the US now, simply because it is not economically viable anymore. I have no intention of even applying to American universities. It makes no sense to spend a crore or so to study in US, when the chances of getting a job there are low. The return on investment isn’t great. I am exploring other options in India as well as education opportunities in France and Netherlands,” he says. 

Educationists believe the proposed Bill will have an adverse effect on Indian students. According to Rev Dr P Christie SJ, Director, Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), “The United States, which was once an aggressive proponent of globalisation is now becoming too nationalistic. Now there is a fear that Donald Trump may completely do away with Optional Practical Training for students studying in the US. Undoubtedly, it will have a great impact on Indian students. It is an expensive proposition for students going to the US for studies and many of them would like to stay back at least for a few years to pay back their loans. It will totally discourage students opting to go to the US for studies and they will look for other alternatives like Canada, Australia etc. It will also have a tremendous impact on Universities in the US, which will be deprived of talent. Currently, there are more than 1,65,000 Indian students studying in the US.”