US Becomes Favorite Destination For Indian Students

[caption id="attachment_1628" align="alignleft" width="190"] Xavier Augustin, CEO of Y-Axis Overseas Careers, talks about Student Visas to the US and more. | Article Published in The Hindu Business Line on November 25th, 2014[/caption]

US President Barack Obama announced immigration reforms last week and raised hope for millions of illegal immigrants and international students living in the US. If the Congress votes in its favor and the reforms come into force, many Indian families and students would also benefit from the same.

Obama in his speech said "Are we a nation that educates the world’s best and brightest in our universities, only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us? Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs here, create businesses here, create industries right here in America?”

Students from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) background can find jobs, get work permits, and even H1B, all easier than what it is today. Thus, it's very much predictable that demand for student visas will surge and US will become the top education destination for Indian students all over again.

CEO of Y-Axis Overseas Careers, Xavier Augustin, feels that more people will be inclined towards a student visa than an erratic H1B.

Speaking to The Hindu Businessline, he said, “The students will also be able to choose the right career instead of being pressured into choosing anything that comes their way to protect their status in the US. They will end up with good sponsors instead the ones who move faster to process their H1Bs."

He further added that, "The exemption for 20,000 Masters level students from the regular H1B quota will allow more beneficiaries to get the visa. There has always been a special quota of 20,000 for Masters’ students, excluding the annual regular quota of 65,000."

A combination of a liberal student visa, extended OPT for STEM students, the exempt quota of 20,000 and a friendlier Green Card stage will make the USA return as the top destination for Indian students, Augustin felt.

Source: The Hindu Businessline