Is US Still The Dream Destination For Indian Students?

The recent hike in H-1B visa fee has forced many Indian students to rethink their decisions to study and work in the US and look at alternative destinations, such as Europe and Australia. However, skilled students, may not have much to worry

- Manas Malhotra

For decades, Indians have been going to the US, the land of opportunity to build careers, lives and raise the next generation. Most first landed there as students. According to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which is part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in 2024, 422,335 Indian students went to the US, a figure that was 11.80 per cent higher than the previous year.

The recent restrictions on the H-1B visa, however, can throw a spanner in the works for many Indians aspiring to work in the US. The US administration under President Donald Trump has introduced a onetime $100,000 fee (up from $2,000-5,000) for US employers sponsoring new applications for H-1B visas filed on or after September 21, 2025. Renewals and existing H-1B visa holders are not affected by the restrictions.

In fact, Indian student arrivals in the US saw a significant decline in 2025. In August, 41,540 students arrived, marking a 44.50 per cent drop compared to August 2024, while July saw 13,027 arrivals, a 46.30 per cent dip from the previous year, according to the US International Trade Administration's I-94 Arrivals Program.

It's not clear though if the drop is related to the US restrictions.

Will the restrictions affect the number of Indian students going to the US? Let's find out.

The Dream Of Migration

H-1B visa is a key factor for international students as it lets them work in the US temporarily after graduation.

Jitin Chawla, co-founder of Unone, an AI-based platform for career counselling based in Delhi, while talking to