Study in United States

The USA Student visa is the most sought after globally even in the Trump era. Most student visa holders are from India and China with Indian students making up 29% of all student visas issued in 2024.

In the Trump era, success rates have gone down. Between March and May 2025, 9900 student visas were approved in India but this figure represents a 27% decrease from the same period in 2024. Despite this, the student visa USA has not lost its allure.

Section 214 (b) is a part of the INA (Immigration and Nationality Act). It’s a very short section that basically states that the visa officer is required to assume that you are a potential immigrant and can only give you a visa if he is convinced that you will return to Indian after your studies. Your ties in India are the most important thing that the visa officer will evaluate in this regard.

ABILITY to succeed academically: This means that the visa officer will ask herself if you have the potential to be a successful student in the USA.

INTENT to complete the program and return. This means that the visa officer will ask herself whether your main intention is to study, and not something else.

MEANS to be able to pay for everything. The question that the visa officer askes herself is whether your sponsor’s financial situation is such that they can easily afford the costs of tuition and living.

Your communication skills are tested to the limit by the USA F1 visa interview questions. The way you answer these seemingly harmless questions (why the USA?/Why a particular program?/Why a particular university?) helps the visa officer to decide about your intentions. General answers will not get you anywhere!

So, how do you answer them? If you’re asked ‘why the USA’, your answer should demonstrate the fact that you have made an informed choice in choosing the USA for your education. General answers like ‘It’s the best education system in the world/It’s the most advanced nation in the world’ are like a red flag to the visa officer. Get counselling on visa interviews here from a USACT Certified professional with 25 years of experience.

Visa Officers are looking for someone who has ties in India that will ensure that they return, in the interview, they also gauge whether you have made an informed choice in choosing the US, whether you have it in you to be a good student in the USA, whether you can afford to study in the USA and your intentions in applying for this visa.

The first and foremost ‘Trump Effect’ is more strict vetting. Visa officers are stricter in applying 214 (b) and will now probably not use the balance of probability as much as they did pre-Trump.

The big change is Social Media vetting. At the time of applying, you have to enter all your social media creds. These are then vetted for content that is ‘against the American way of life or thinking’. They are also probably looking for pro-Palestine, anti-Isreal, pro-Hamas posts, or ‘WOKE’ shares and likes and posts.

Not submitting your social media creds could be interpreted as an attempt to conceal information.

International students have limited legal work opportunities compared to countries like the UK, Australia, Canada or New Zealand.
You are not allowed to work off-campus in the first year of your studies in the US. In the second year, you have options like the CPT and OPT.
After you graduate, the only work option is a full-time OPT.

International undergrads in the U.S. on F-1 visas can work part-time on campus (up to 20 hours/week) in roles like library assistants or dining hall staff, earning $10-$15/hour. Graduate students often secure teaching or research assistantships (TAs/RAs), which cover tuition and provide stipends ($15,000-$30,000/year).

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows international students on F-1 visas to work off-campus in the U.S. in jobs related to their major. It’s authorized by the university’s international student office and requires enrollment in a related course or internship credit. Over 12 months of full-time CPT may impact Optional Practical Training (OPT) eligibility.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 visa international students to work in their field of study in the U.S. It is available during studies (pre-completion OPT) but more commonly used after graduation (post-completion OPT). It permits 12 months of work, extendable to 36 months for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) majors. OPT Jobs must align with the major.

Transitioning from Optional Practical Training (OPT) to an H-1B visa or green card is a critical step for international students aiming to stay in the U.S. OPT allows 12-36 months of work in your field post-graduation, but it’s temporary. The H-1B visa, a common next step, permits up to six years of employment in a specialty occupation, requiring employer sponsorship and a bachelor’s degree. However, H-1B visas are capped annually (85,000), making the lottery highly competitive. For a green card, employer-sponsored options like EB-2/EB-3 involve lengthy processes, often years, depending on your country of origin.
See the official work rules here.