Future of the US student visa

There have been multiple reports in recent months about abrupt cancellations of student visas and SEVPs (Student and Exchange Visitor Programs) of international students in US universities without any prior notification or warning.

- BASAB DASGUPTA

This situation evolved from the feud between President Donald Trump and elite universities like Harvard and Columbia regarding alleged tolerance of those schools of violent anti-Semitic protests and various purportedly anti-US activities.

These events drew my attention because of my own migration to the US for higher education on a student visa and my concern for thousands of fellow Indian students on a similar path. Many questions immediately popped up in my head: a) Why do American universities even admit so many international students? b) Why do foreign students come to the US? c) Does anyone vet these applicants about their background? d) Should the US pull the plug on students who have risked their entire future and financial resources to realize the dream of an American education?

There are, at least, three answers to the first question: i) tuition from foreign students helps the university's financial situation; ii) building of cultural diversity in the student body and iii) drop in domestic enrollment. Students have many different reasons for US education: better education, more opportunities with a US-education, exposure to a foreign culture, possible US citizenship, worldwide travel and so on.

To answer the other questions, a review of my migration to the US is in order. I really did not have a burning desire to get a PhD degree in the US, and my parents certainly did not have the financial means to support that ambition even if I did. My decision was made by peer pressure more than anything else; many of my friends from Presidency College were applying for graduate study in the US and my competitive spirit kicked in.