Indian Professional Warns Students, Workers Against US Move Amid Visa Uncertainty

An Indian professional has sparked a debate online by advising students and working professionals to reconsider plans to move to the United States, citing growing uncertainty over immigration and employment rules.

In an Instagram post, Anushk Sharma, who says he has previously assisted students with US applications, urged Indians to hold off on making the move. "US is dead now," he said, adding that he would no longer recommend the country to prospective students.

Sharma specifically cautioned those considering business-related programmes, suggesting institutions like Oxford and Cambridge as alternatives. For technology courses, he recommended Germany and Switzerland, though he acknowledged that salaries in those countries may not match US levels.

A key part of his argument focused on Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which allows F-1 students to take up off-campus internships as part of their curriculum. Sharma claimed that the course-credit version of CPT had become unavailable at some universities due to new compliance requirements, though he clarified that the programme itself had not been abolished.

He also raised concerns about Optional Practical Training (OPT), which permits F-1 students to work temporarily in the US after graduation. Sharma pointed to proposed fees of $100,000 linked to both OPT and H-1B visas, arguing that such uncertainty made the move a risky financial decision.

"It's not worth it anymore," he said, while acknowledging that several proposed changes had not yet been finalised. In the post's caption, he wrote that he would not suggest investing $100,000 at this time given the uncertainty.

The post drew mixed reactions, with some users agreeing with his assessment and others accusing him of exaggerating the impact of the policy changes.