Rahul (who chooses not to use his second name), an Indian student from Delhi, graduated last year from Brandeis University in Boston, with a Finance major and is now working on the optional practical training (OPT) visa. For him, the US was the best choice for higher education, when he was planning his overseas education back in 2021. The opportunities available in cutting-edge research and innovation in fields such as data science and artificial intelligence (AI) gave me an edge. “The US is home to many top-tier universities that offer advanced programmes. Additionally, the opportunity to work with leading experts and gain exposure to the latest technological advancements was a significant factor in my decision,” says Rahul.
The OPT temporary employment option, which is a part of the F-1 student visa, was an incentive for him to choose the US for higher education. In the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, OPT timelines allow for up to three years of work authorization in the US after graduation. “This opportunity to gain practical work experience in my field was highly attractive. It provided a chance to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during studies in a real-world setting and improves my future employment prospects,” Rahul says. The possibility of securing a job in the US on OPT after graduation, and potentially transitioning to an H-1B work visa later, is a big draw for thousands of Indian students and there has been a huge uptick in the demand for student visas to the US in the past few years.
Last week, the US Embassy in India announced an expanded student visa season in 2024 because of a continued increase in the demand for student visa applications. According to a press release from the US Embassy, in 2023, the US Mission to India issued more student visas than in 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined. “This unprecedented growth reflects the ongoing commitment by the US government to prioritise students and to facilitate their travel, even as the mission met a 400% rise in demand for all other visas between 2021 and 2023,” a recent press release from the US Embassy said.
Indian students are already the largest group of international graduate students in the US and the country remains the number one higher education destination for Indians, with studies showing that 69% of Indian students prefer a US education to any other destination, the press release added.
In 2023, 140,000 student visas were issued in India, while in 2024, there are around 2,70,000 Indian students in the US, making up more than a quarter of the total international students there, according to official figures.
University of Missouri-Kansas City, a popular destination for Indian students, is reporting a healthy demand for admissions from India this year; with 841 Indians enrolled in the current spring semester. “While the current wait times on the state department’s student visa website are lengthy, we’re confident from experience to expect those wait times to dramatically decrease during the summer,” says Mark Daly, director of International Affairs at UMKC. He adds that popular subjects, among Indian students, continue to be in the STEM fields, especially engineering, computer science and data analytics with the highest demand for graduate programmes.
Likewise, Indian students continue to apply to the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles in record numbers this year with India consistently ranked as the second-most represented source of international students at USC behind China. “This year, we received record numbers of applications from Indian students seeking admission to programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Interest in USC from India has steadily increased in recent years,” says Timothy Brunold, dean of admission, USC. In the past academic year, about 2,700 international students from India were enrolled at USC.
Despite concerns over economic slowdown and job losses in the US over the past few months; the number of Indians planning to study in the US for the 2023-2024 academic year remains robust, according to most experts. “The US remains a top destination for higher education due to its reputable institutions and diverse opportunities, leading to a continued strong interest from Indian students,” says Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder and director of education consultancy Collegify. He adds that for the 2023-2024 academic year, the situation regarding student visa interview dates has shown some improvement compared to previous years, which is also an advantage. “US embassies and consulates have been making efforts to mitigate student visa issues by increasing staffing, extending interview hours, and implementing special visa appointment days specifically for students. However, despite these measures, some students are experiencing anxiety over potential delays and the impact on their ability to commence studies on time,” he says.
While steps are being taken by the US government to ease and fast-track the student’s visa process in India this summer; on the other hand, there are negative signals from some of the other popular overseas study destinations this year. “This year, too, the largest number of Indian students going to study overseas is likely to be to the US. Besides the popular OPT programme and the availability of top-quality STEM and other courses at a large number of universities and colleges; the fact that there’s uncertainty and headwinds around immigration and post-study work policies in Canada, the UK and Australia, is another reason why Indian students are being drawn to the US in larger numbers,” says Sachin Jain, country manager, ETS India and South Asia, the organisation that conducts various tests required for overseas study and immigration. He adds that the US, on the other hand, is showing policy stability with student visa issues getting high attention at the topmost level of the US government.
While a larger number of Indian students go to the US for graduate (masters) courses; undergraduate enrolment is also growing. At USC, for instance, undergraduate applications from India have increased 80% from just five years ago. Graduate applications from India have increased by 15% over that same period. “The rise in undergraduate applications is driven by the recognition of long-term benefits and the comprehensive support systems available at US universities for younger students,” says Collegify’s Khandelwal.
Aditi (chooses not to use second name), an Indian student who enrolled for an undergrad course at the UC Berkeley, in California, last year, was focused on studying in the US because of the quality of education and the opportunities available. She also felt that there was a lack of clarity and guidance in understanding the admissions processes of some other overseas destinations. “For instance, the application process for the UK felt rigid due to the requirement to choose a specific course upfront. In Canada, I encountered difficulties with understanding the provincial differences in education systems and application deadlines. Australia had its own set of challenges, including higher living costs and concerns about safety in some cities,” she says. Aditi learnt about the different OPT requirements and timelines for STEM and non-STEM degrees only after she got to the US and joined her course. “I then decided to take additional quantitative courses to meet the criteria for the STEM OPT extension. This has significantly enhanced my prospects, providing me with the opportunity to gain practical work experience for up to three years, which is a major incentive for choosing the US for my studies,” she says.