Tighter US Visa Rules Push Indian Students to Pursue Second Degrees, PhDs to Stay Longer
HYDERABAD: Tightened visa scrutiny and proposed reforms in the United States are forcing many Indian students to reconsider their plans, with several turning to second master’s or PhD programmes to legally extend their stay.
Students face hurdles with STEM OPT applications
A growing number of F-1 visa holders are receiving Requests for Evidence (RFEs) when applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) the work authorisation that allows foreign graduates to gain professional experience. With employers often unwilling to share documents proving a “bona fide” employer employee relationship, students are left scrambling for alternatives.
“I received an RFE for my STEM OPT, asking for detailed proof of employment. My employer refused to provide it, so my only option is to transfer my SEVIS to a second master’s programme,” said an IT employee currently on a 180-day OPT extension.
Visa reforms prompt shift to PhD programmes
Another Hyderabad student based in Dallas said, “I worked with an NGO initially and now have a full-time job. But I cannot provide documentation for the first employment, so I may have to enrol for another master’s just to maintain my visa.”
The US Department of Homeland Security’s proposed rules could prevent students from pursuing a second degree at the same level or claiming OPT again, prompting many to explore PhD admissions as a longer-term solution.
“I earn about $45 an hour part-time. Even with an H-1B, I’d earn around $60. Pursuing a PhD seems the safest way to continue staying here,” said a Hyderabad-born computer science graduate. Another student admitted that his search for PhD programmes offering Day 1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) was mainly to retain legal status.
Education counsellors see rise in ‘pay-to-stay’ cases
Education consultants report a spike in queries from students looking to enrol in courses purely to maintain F-1 status. “We call these ‘pay-to-stay’ programmes. Every week, I get at least five to six calls about PhD or second master’s options. We discourage such moves because most students are not genuinely pursuing higher studies,” said Ravi Lothumalla, a US education counsellor.
He added that students see PhD programmes as safer in view of possible DHS rule changes, which could reshape study and work opportunities for international students in America.
