Job crunch, climate of uncertainty push Indian students in the US to explore multiple options

Indian students in the US are rushing to explore various options for extending their stay and enhancing their job prospects, as tougher immigration rules and fewer employment opportunities amid a wave of Trump-led protectionism threaten to crush their American dreams.

The number of affluent parents looking to fund $800,000 employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) visas—which grant permanent residence rights to recipients—for their children is on the rise. Other strategies students are exploring include enrolling in a second master’s programme or curricular practical training (CPT) programme that allows work authorisation from Day 1; opting for micro-internships and remote freelance work, besides networking aggressively, attending events, while submitting job appplications continuously.

The current upheaval among Indian students comes at a time when many international students, especially those graduating this year, are struggling to secure internships or full-time roles. The US job market has tightened, marked by hiring freezes and layoffs in several firms amid recession fears and AI automation impacting entry-level jobs. Companies are also reducing H-1B sponsorships.

Anshuman Das, CEO and co-founder of the Careernet Group, which recently expanded to the US market, is experiencing a rush of resumes of those trying to find a job in America. He says the US white-collar job market has become tougher, even more so with AI disruption. “Finding a job from campus has become much harder, including coding jobs.”

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