US immigration rules have been more stringent for Indian students. The US Citizenship and Immigration Servicess (USCIS) revelation of social media monitoring of visa applicants has created further worry for the students and their parents in the wake of rumors about student visas being cancelled by American universities.
The passion of Indian students to study at United States higher education is not abated by such barriers, especially in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and new ones such as artificial intelligence (AI). Experts say that the reason for this is that the United States provides a unique advanced research environment, international exposure, work rights upon study, and access to the latest in industry.
US Launched AI programs
The number of AI programs institutions have launched has almost doubled in the last two years. Furthermore, conventional STEM programs continue to be popular, with engineering, data science, and computer science being the frontrunners. All of these are highly correlated with job vacancies. Leverage Edu founder and CEO Akshay Chaturvedi explained to the Times of India that business programs with a technology or high analytics component are sought after. In reality, in contrast to last year, the enrollment of students in American universities increased by 23% during 2023–2024. But because of the perpetual flux of US immigration policy, 2025 isn’t without worry.
More than ever before, students are asking about immigration law, job prospects, and the political climate in general. While the United State remains a leading holiday destination, Chaturvedi stated that there is a growing need for information about long-term prospects. Nevertheless, as the experts note, students are increasingly being careful when navigating the immigration process. In addition, they also have other nations in reserve as backup alternatives.
Because of its academic excellence, advanced research infrastructure, industry-focused programs, accessibility to quality education, and wide-ranging opportunities, the United States is a favorite destination for international students. Because of its thriving culture, students pursuing STEM careers usually opt for the US as their first choice, according to Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia and Mauritius at IDP Education.
Mr. Kumar maintains that although the stringent immigration policies have led to a drop in interest this year, demand will pick up in the coming months.
“The presence of global recruiters, Fortune 500 internship opportunities, startup clusters close to US campuses, and curriculum flexibility are a magnet for enterprising minds,” opined Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder and director at Collegify, while referring to the three-year Optional Practical Training (OPT) duration that STEM graduates have. The number of candidates to the top 50 United States’s universities has increased by 22%, Mr. Khandelwal said.
In the meantime, experts advise students to apply early and make their decisions so they are ready. “I’m advising students to be strategic and proactive because this year will be unpredictable in terms of immigration.” In order to make room for unforeseen circumstances, such as probable reapplications, they need to apply for their visa as early as they can. Scholar Strategy and 24NorthStar founder Nistha Tripathi advised them to be careful with their paperwork and be detailed in preparing for the visa interview.
“US immigration officials take political affiliations and social media seriously. She warned the students to be very careful with what they do on the internet and keep their digital and physical records clean while pursuing their studies.”. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber security, robotics, engineering, medical sciences, environmental science, business, and finance are some of the most in-demand streams of study for Indian students, according to prevailing trends.
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