How it May Impact Indian Students

● H-1B pertains to foreign professionals working in the US, while F-1 visa is for foreign students

- Prof Raj Singh

The proposed visa restrictions under the upcoming Donald Trump administration could make it more challenging for Indian professionals to work in the US. During the previous Trump administration (2017-20), stricter visa policies had a major impact on Indian IT professionals (a large percentage of H-1B visa holders). Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro were compelled to hire more locally in the US, leading to higher operational costs. This uncertainty prompted many Indian professionals to explore opportunities in countries like Canada and Australia. However, this time, there is hope for a more lenient approach, although it remains to be seen what will be the H-1B policy reforms that are being talked about.

Any modifications to visa policies could present obstacles. For instance, reduced visa availability might lead to bottlenecks, especially during peak application periods, causing longer waiting times for processing. Indian applicants, being the largest group of international candidates, could face intensified competition for limited slots.