Why are Indians Rethinking the American Dream in 2025?
It has always been a dream to go to America and pursue higher education for better exposure and opportunities. A large Indian student population has always been attracted to study in US, and for decades, the F-1 student visa has been the epitome of success for them. Getting the study visa in the US meant access to world-class education, global exposure, and a bright future ahead. But with time, students who once celebrated securing the US study visa are now rethinking their decisions. Under the Trump administration, the ‘American Dream’ is thus slowly getting shadowed by uncertainty. From stricter immigration policies to dwindling job market and H-1B opportunities and rising tuition fees, going to the US has become a high-stakes gamble for international students.
This Story also Contains
- A Dream that is not the Same Anymore for Indians
- What is the harsh reality behind the F-1 study visa?
- A broken path to stability in the US
- Legal Battles and Harsh Signals for International Students
- What about the F-1 study visa confusion?
- Why are Indians Reconsidering Studying in the US in 2025?
- Conclusion
Read More: US Student Visa Latest News and Updates
A Dream that is not the Same Anymore for Indians
A 30-year-old employee in Accenture shared his experience of anxiety after he received the F-1 student visa. He wanted to do masters in the US for a better salary package and so that he could live with his brothers who were already there in the US, but he said, “The dream no longer feels secure”, pointing towards how his excitement faded and changed into fear after he saw the news about visa restrictions and anti-immigrant sentiment. There are hundreds and thousands of other Indians just like him who question the current post-study work situation in the US that does not offer stability, high ROI, and safety.
Also Read: Indian Techie Shares his Journey from F-1 Visa to Green Card
What is the harsh reality behind the F-1 study visa?
After spending around 10 years in the IT industry, the Accenture employee wanted to study abroad in the US, but faced discrimination and bias in both India and the US. International professionals face the same situation, and people with disabilities are struck with this the hardest! At the same time, the US job market has tightened. Indians are finding it difficult to access the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program that was once used to bridge the gap between students and full-time employment opportunities. Nowadays, they find it tedious to secure a job within the given timeframe, resulting in financial pressure and visa stress.
A broken path to stability in the US
The journey from a US study visa to permanent residency has become more uncertain than ever. There are several roadblocks in the H-1B visa process, which is considered to be the primary pathway for skilled workers in the US. With Trump’s proposal of raising the H-1B visa fees to $100k, the entire international student community in the US got shocked. As a result, the companies remain reluctant to sponsor foreign talent due to compliance costs and political unpredictability. For Indian students, this situation has become nothing less than a complex maze.
Legal Battles and Harsh Signals for International Students
While the courts are challenging the immigration rules under the Trump era, Washington is sending mixed signals. As a result, international students often find themselves sandwiched between the bureaucratic uncertainty in the form of delayed visa approvals and stricter compliance checks. The clear message is that foreign workers are no longer welcome as they used to be. Consequently, alternative study abroad destinations like Canada, Australia, Germany, and the UK are gaining traction for their stable post-study work rights for international students and predictable visa policies.
Also Read:
What about the F-1 study visa confusion?
Undoubtedly, studying in the US is still a dream come true for international students, however, the financial risk associated with it has captured their minds. While a majority of Indian families take an education loan of 50-70 lakhs to make their children study in the US, not getting a high ROI due to stricter work visa policies is resulting in generating fear of getting trapped in debt in their minds. What was once a celebration — receiving the F-1 visa — has become a moment of cautious hesitation.
Why are Indians Reconsidering Studying in the US in 2025?
Amidst the ongoing visa policy changes, inquiries for other countries like the UK, Germany, Canada, and Australia have increased by 40% in 2025. These are the major reasons why Indians are reconsidering their decision to study in the US in 2025.
Tuition fee hike and rising cost of living in US
Uncertain H-1B visa process
Stricter immigration rules
Limited OPT opportunities
Global alternatives
Related Reads:
Conclusion
Even in present times, the F-1 visa remains the gateway to the most prestigious top US universities and top-notch research facilities. However, for several Indian students it no longer symbolises the unshakeable American dream. Now, the question is not “Can I get a US visa”, but rather, “Is getting a US study visa worth it”?
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Hi there
Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.
Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..
Below i have mentioned some courses that you can try before visiting us:
- Social media marketing
- Content writer
- Content creation
- Video editing
- Photography skills
- Digital marketing
- Stiching
- Makeup artist course
- Hairstyling course.
So these are some courses you can try.
Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.
Thank you and good luck:)
Hello Samarasimha,
YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.
Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :
- 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
- 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
- GRE score of 330 or above.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
- Project work/Seminars.
- 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
- Social & Leadership Activities.
Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :
- Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
- Gain internship experience. ...
- Choose your specialty. ...
- Pursue industry certifications. ...
- Continue your education.
I hope that this will help.
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
- TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
- There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.
Top university of The USA for master degree courses
- John Carroll University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Michigan State University
- West Virginia University
- Rhode Island College
- University of Arkansas
- Vanderbilt University
- DePaul University
- Delaware State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- University of South Florida
- California State University Northridge
You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .
Hello Student
You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.
Hope this will help.
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