US President Donald Trump’s newly announced H-1B visa fee hike had shattered so many Indians’ dreams, and one of them is Paridhi Upadhaya. Paridhi Upadhaya, who was packing for her computer science scholarship in the United States, prompted her family in Lucknow to cancel the plan, Reuters reported. “Trump’s unending onslaught against immigrants is forcing us to consider other destinations for her,” said her father, Rudar Pratap. Upadhaya is among thousands of Indians whose long-held dream of US education and careers is souring under rising visa restrictions and policy unpredictability. For decades, the H-1B visa has been the gateway for young engineers and scientists from India, China and elsewhere to turn years of study into high-paying jobs and possible permanent residency. But Trump has announced that new H-1B applications will cost $100,000 — up from the $2,000–$5,000 employers currently pay to sponsor workers. More than 13,000 kilometres away in Dallas, an Indian master’s student now faces $80,000 in debt and an uncertain future. “Right now, the only aim is to finish my degree, find an internship, and try to recover my debt,” said the student, requesting anonymity. “I’ll move to Canada or Europe — anywhere that actually wants us.” While supporters say H-1Bs bring vital talent, Trump argues the program depresses wages and sidelines US workers. Yet the visa has produced some of America’s top executives: Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, IBM’s Arvind Krishna and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai all arrived as students before securing H-1Bs. India remains the largest source of beneficiaries, with 71% of approvals last year compared to China’s 11.7%, US data show.
Consultants say young Indians are now actively weighing alternative destinations. “Many students and parents are in ‘wait-and-watch’ mode, looking at the UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand,” said Piyush Kumar of IDP Education. Patlolla Bharath Reddy of Uni Planet Overseas Education noted, “Students are asking for a Plan B upfront because return on investment matters.” Others urge patience. “We’ve been reassuring them the order may face legal hurdles and things could change by the time they graduate,” said KP Singh of IMFS, an overseas education consultancy. In 2023, the US hosted 465,000 Indian students — the highest of any country — followed by Canada, the UK and Australia, according to Indian government data. Meanwhile, other nations are seizing the moment. Germany touts its migration policy as “reliable, modern and predictable,” while China has launched a new visa allowing foreigners to enter, study and work without a job offer. On the day Trump signed the $100,000 H-1B fee order, Chinese cities like Jinan and Nanjing held massive job fairs for overseas talent. “Ultimately, it’s a losing proposition for America,” said Deepa Ollapally, research professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.
