Washington, USA: The U.S. government is planning significant changes to its visa policies, which could pose serious challenges for Indian students and professionals in the tech sector. Among the key changes is a proposal to reduce the annual H1B work visas from 85,000 to 40,000. This visa, which is crucial for skilled workers seeking employment in the U.S., will now offer fewer opportunities, particularly impacting Indians in technology and related industries.

Another major alteration involves the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Currently, this program allows international students to work for up to 12 months after graduation. Moving forward, it will be limited exclusively to STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), leaving students in non-STEM disciplines without access to this work pathway.

Additionally, the H1B visa allocation process is set to undergo a transformation. While the current system relies on a random lottery, the new method will prioritize candidates with higher salaries and greater experience. This change could significantly disadvantage fresh graduates who lack extensive work experience.

Another controversial proposal includes the potential removal of birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-immigrant workers, such as H1B visa holders, which could have profound implications for Indian families living in America.

These policy changes signal a significant setback for Indian students and professionals striving to build careers in the U.S. According to a recent analysis, these measures, championed by Stephen Miller and the #Trump47 agenda, may disrupt the U.S. tech industry in the near future, which heavily depends on skilled Indian talent.

Fresh graduates, in particular, are likely to face greater obstacles as job opportunities shrink. Many Indian-Americans who supported Donald Trump, believing in a strong Modi-Trump relationship, might feel disillusioned as these policies undermine their ability to work and settle in the U.S. The tech industry, already grappling with talent shortages, could face even greater challenges in sustaining its workforce.