Washington
Such news has come out from the US which has worried about 3 lakh Indian students. In fact, a new bill has been introduced in the US which proposes to abolish the optional practical training (OPT) option for international students. This feature currently provides students with Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), so that they can work for 3 years in the US after completing their studies. If this bill is passed, then students will have to leave the country immediately after finishing studies, until they acquire H-1B visa. This decision is being taken at a time when many countries have suffered a major setback due to the tariff policies of the Trump government.
Indian students are part of the largest population of international students in the US. According to the open doors report, in 2023-24, out of 11 lakh international students in the US, there were 3.31 lakh Indians. These students mainly study in stem courses and gain professional experiences through OPT. This strengthens their claim to get a H-1B visa. Now the new change can have a profound impact on their career plan. It is being told that this step is part of the strict immigration policies of Donald Trump administration. He promised to tighten the mass deployment and visa rules in the election campaign.
What will be the option of students after America
The new proposal will affect not only Indian students, but also students from other countries. Experts say that many students can now turn to alternative countries like Canada and Europe, where Indian applications for 2025-26 are witnessing a 20% increase. This news has caused panic among the students. Many students are now trying to apply for H-1B visas quickly, but its lottery process and limited quota make it difficult. If Opt is finished, then the dream of studying and career in America can be incomplete for Indian students. This situation also questions the educational and economic relations of Indo-US.