Should Indian students abandon the 'American Dream' amid F-1 visa volatility? 4 things immigration experts suggest

Students planning to study in the US in the next 1-2 years should prepare differently, immigration experts suggest. International students in the US faced immense volatility this year because of several new rules -- some are being proposed, some are coming into effect. Amid fears that this would significantly reduce the number of foreign students in the US, immigration experts believe that US education for Indian students is yet to lose its charm. But given the situation, those who are planning to study in the US in the coming two years need to be prepared differently.Choose degree, not AmericaImmigration attorney Gnanamookan Senthurjothi said students should choose the program that serves them, not just because it's in America. A US degree should not be treated as a Green Card pipeline. "Go in aiming to acquire knowledge and hands-on experience at a global standard. If you get that right, the H-1B, the PhD, the postdoctoral research position, the J-1 exchange opportunity — and in the long run, even a Green Card — tend to follow as outcomes of good work, not as the goal itself. Chase the work; don't chase the status," he said.Veena Vijay Ananth, another US immigration expert, said:...