Trump’s new plan could be a big blow for Indian students

The new plan of the Donald Trump administration could be a big blow for millions of Indian students who dream of working in the United States after completing their higher education. The country's government is considering imposing a fee of 100,000 US dollars (about 95 lakh rupees or more than 1 crore taka at the current exchange rate) for international students to participate in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

According to US media reports, the White House has not yet made any official announcement in this regard. However, if the plan is implemented, the path used most by Indian students to get an H-1B visa by working in the United States after completing their studies will become much more difficult.

Currently, under the OPT program, international students can work in the United States for a maximum of one year without a separate work visa after completing their degree. Students studying in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) get an additional two years of work opportunity. That is, STEM graduates can work in the United States for a total of three years.

According to analysts, the OPT program is one of the main bridges to getting a job from a US university and later an H-1B work visa. According to the new proposal, students may have to pay a fee of $ 100,000 to get that opportunity.

Trump administration officials claim that many are abusing the OPT program for visa fraud and overstaying. However, critics say that such a large fee will hurt truly talented students the most.

Biggest impact on Indian students

India is the largest source of international students in the United States. According to the latest Open Doors report, more than 363,000 Indian students studied at various educational institutions in the United States in the 2024-25 academic year, which is the highest of any country in the world. During that time, almost one-third of international students studying in the United States were Indians.

According to statistics, about 40 percent of Indian students studying in the United States take advantage of the OPT program. Many go to study in the United States with student loans and plan to work for a few years after graduation to repay the loans. Those concerned believe that the new fee could completely change the economic calculations.

According to education consultants, if this policy is implemented, interest in higher education in countries like Canada, the UK, Germany or Australia may increase instead of the US. At the same time, many Indian students currently in the US will also face uncertainty about their future.

A stricter stance on immigration policy

According to analysts, this proposal is a continuation of the Trump administration's strict immigration policy. Earlier, an initiative was taken to impose a fee of $ 100,000 for new H-1B visa applications. However, after objections from large technology companies, a federal appeals court in Boston stayed that decision.

Meanwhile, according to US government data, new admissions of Indian students decreased by about 45 percent between August 2024 and August 2025. Long delays in visa interviews and strict screening were cited as the main reasons behind this.

In addition, 96 percent of US universities that participated in the Open Doors survey said that visa-related complications were the biggest reason for the decline in new admissions of international students.

According to analysts, additional fees on H-1B visas, a potential $100,000 charge on the OPT program, and increasingly strict immigration policies are all limiting opportunities for skilled foreign workers and international students in the United States.

Source: NDTV