International students in the US faced immense volatility this year because of several new rules -- some are being proposed, some are coming into effect. Amid fears that this would significantly reduce the number of foreign students in the US, immigration experts believe that US education for Indian students is yet to lose its charm. But given the situation, those who are planning to study in the US in the coming two years need to be prepared differently.
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Choose degree, not America
Immigration attorney Gnanamookan Senthurjothi said students should choose the program that serves them, not just because it's in America. A US degree should not be treated as a Green Card pipeline. "Go in aiming to acquire knowledge and hands-on experience at a global standard. If you get that right, the H-1B, the PhD, the postdoctoral research position, the J-1 exchange opportunity — and in the long run, even a Green Card — tend to follow as outcomes of good work, not as the goal itself. Chase the work; don't chase the status," he said.
Veena Vijay Ananth, another US immigration expert, said: "If the honest answer to 'why this university and this programme' is 'because it's in the US,' that's not a plan, that's a placeholder for one."
Take stock of the financial situation
With immigration policy shifting as often as it has this year, that chain of assumptions is no longer safe to build a family's finances around, Senthurjothi said adding that it would be a mistake now to assume that the education loan will be repaid by a guaranteed US Job. "Ask: can this education still be "worth it" if the US employment outcome doesn't materialise the way I expect?"
Expect scrutiny and delay as the norm, not the exception
If an Indian student is planning to apply to US universities in the next two years, they should be prepared for scrutiny, delays, longer administrative processing and policy reversals. "These are not a shock reserved for a bad year. Build that into your timeline and your budget from day one," the expert said.
Explore lower-cost alternatives
Many institutions now offer co-op arrangements, internship-linked programs, or a final year abroad that lets students graduate with a US degree at a fraction of the cost, Senthurjothi said. "Some US universities are establishing a direct presence in India. For families weighing affordability against the volatility of studying entirely on US soil, these are worth serious consideration, not treated as a lesser option," he said.
The biggest uncertainty that international students faced this year was the Trump administration's 'duration of status' rule, which got blocked September 14, a day before it was scheduled to take effect. The rule said F-1 visas will have a four-year limit and students who need more years to complete their courses will have to seek an extension.
Another new guidance was issued by the Department of Homeland Security's Student and Exchange Visitor Program which said CPT (Curricular Practical Training) can be authorized only when practical training is required for all students enroled in the program. This can not be an 'international students only' program. If the training is crucial for the degree, then American students too should get it; otherwise, it should not be there, the new guidance says.
The US will remain one of the world's leading destinations for higher education and that hasn't changed, Veena said, adding that it won't change either. "What has changed is that students and families can no longer afford to plan passively. The ones who do well are the ones who plan their education around genuine academic and career value, stay financially realistic, and stay adaptable when the rules shift under them, because right now, they will." Veena added.
