The squeeze on US student visas indicates right-wing dominance

U.S. Student Visa Interviews and Policy Impact on Indian Students

• U.S. student visa interviews have begun due to an extended vetting program, involving rigorous checks on applicants’ social media activities.

• Many visa applications are still pending, with many potentially going to the wire as classes begin by the end of August/beginning of September.

• The Trump administration’s nominee to head U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has vowed to end the Optional Practical Training programme (OPT), which allows students to work in the U.S. after graduation while on student visa.

• The Trump administration will only provide fixed-tenure student visas.

• Reports of universities rescinding PhD admissions of Indian students have led to a sharp decline in visa issuance in several cities.

• The Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies have been influenced by tech billionaires, with the exit of Elon Musk and cuts on green energy research highlighting the dominance of right-wing extremists.

• The decline of the U.S. as a major attraction for Indian talent may indicate India may have to pivot away from the U.S. in other areas.