
A surprising trend is emerging in US immigration, one that threatens to spiral out of control. Experts are sounding the alarm, with a major focus on Indian students.
Jessica M. Vaughan, an immigration expert, revealed that over 7,000 Indian students overstayed their US visas in 2023. Speaking to the House Judiciary Committee, she warned that the US immigration system needs major changes to restrict this abuse of study permits.
Also Read – H-1B Key Dates Out: Massive Fee Hike Announced
The F-1 and M-1 visas that are meant for students and exchange visitors have the highest overstay rates in the US. India, China, Brazil, and Colombia are leading this statistic with 20% of people overstaying their visas.
Vaughan called for stricter rules and checks to ensure students plan to leave after their studies. And if that wasn’t concerning enough for the Indians, she also suggested limiting H-1B visas to two years and capping the number of visas at 75,000.
Also Read – Airport Shock: H1B, B1 Visas Canceled Before Flight
Stricter H-1B visa policies were already expected with Trump back in power. Now with these overstays undermining the credibility of the whole system, we can see stricter policies for F-1 visas as well.
However, with Canada taking the lead in hosting Indian students, the US could lose out on this massive talent pool if the problem continues.
Also Read – US Crackdown Fails: Indians Continue To Sneak In