The Trump administration has announced it will cancel more than 100,000 visas in 2025, including roughly 8,000 student visas, describing the move as a record as part of its immigration policy aimed at protecting the United States from individuals deemed threats to public safety or national security.
In a statement posted on social media Monday, the US State Department said it would continue to remove “dangerous individuals” from the country to ensure public safety. According to the department, the revoked visas include about 2,500 specialized visas held by people who have had prior criminal encounters with U.S. law enforcement.
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In an interview with Mint, Varun Singh, managing director of Bengaluru-based immigration consultancy XIPHIAS Immigration, discussed the impact of the Trump administration’s H-1B visa policy reform and explained why many students are increasingly considering Europe as a serious fallback option.
How do the Trump administration’s H1B visa reforms affect the job prospects for Indian STEM graduates in the US and offer alternatives like Canada or Australia more stable pathways?
Indian STEM graduates are much more aware that the American path is no longer driven solely by academic merit or employability. Results are increasingly shaped by visa selection mechanisms and employers’ willingness to take risks.
The move away from a purely random H-1B lottery toward a more weighted or preferential selection framework has made outcomes less predictable for early-career graduates. Entry-level profiles, particularly those starting in the lower pay bands, fear that even with strong credentials, selection may now depend more on reward levels, role criticality and the employer’s willingness to absorb compliance risk.
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In contrast, Canada and Australia are seen as rule-based rather than probability-based. Results in the US are starting to depend more on the employer and the offer than on the lottery. Canada and Australia look more predictable on paper, even if they recalibrate the tide – forcing students to be more ROI and journey conscious rather than blindly loyal to the country.
With the recent overhaul of US student visas under the Trump administration, are Indian students moving to European universities for master’s programs?
We’re not seeing a big shift away from the US, but we’re clearly seeing a portfolio of thinking emerging. Europe is increasingly regarded as a serious Plan B – and in some cases Plan A – especially for Master’s programmes.
Countries like Germany and the Netherlands stand out because they offer clearly defined transition windows after graduation. Germany allows graduates a structured job search period after completion, while the Dutch orientation year gives eligible graduates time to work or start a business without immediate sponsorship pressure.
The decision is less about the cost of tuition or assessments, but more about whether the country offers a transparent bridge from education to employment. Europe gains strength precisely because that bridge is visible and relatively stable.
In your recent client interactions, which emerging destinations or hybrid strategies are emerging as less risky alternatives to the traditional Big Four (US, Canada, UK, Australia)?
We are seeing a growing interest in hybrid migration strategies, especially among students and young professionals who want to reduce risk in one country. New Zealand has emerged as a credible starting point for some profiles as its post-graduation work framework is clearly defined and recent developments in the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement have boosted confidence in the structured mobility debate. For many, the appeal is not speed, but certainty – knowing what comes after graduation.
At the same time, Middle Eastern hubs, particularly the UAE, are increasingly seen as long-term career bases rather than short-term diversions. The ability to stay longer has changed the way professionals assess stability in the region, especially in technology, consulting and business roles.
Amid Trump’s crackdown on H1B lotteries, how do Indian students rate the return on investment in American education versus emerging technology and business opportunities in Singapore or New Zealand?
The ROI conversation around American education has become much more scenario-based. Students now face stress testing results with two negative options: failure to secure an H-1B despite strong work and higher compliance or uncertainty after graduation. When these risks are factored in, alternatives such as Singapore and New Zealand become more attractive for certain profiles.
Singapore is not an easy choice – it is explicitly filtered by merit and salary. It works best for candidates who already have strong offers, specialized skills or branded employers. In contrast, New Zealand appeals to those who appreciate a clearly defined career path after graduation and reduced exposure to lotteries, even if the market is smaller.
What practical advice would you give to Indian students and young professionals going forward for the rest of 2026 and beyond to create a resilient migration plan amidst the volatility of global politics?
The biggest shift we encourage students to make is to stop thinking in terms of a single goal and start thinking in terms of a path to resilience. Students should evaluate educational options retrospectively from work rights to studies and residence tours – not just based on grades. They should assume that policies can change mid-cycle and build at least one credible alternative. And they should invest early in employability – internships, industry exposure and role readiness are more important than ever. In 2026 and beyond, the strongest migration plans will be those that balance education quality with clear outcomes.
Beginning Dec. 15, the State Department also implemented stricter screening measures for H-1B work visas and H-4 dependent visas that include an assessment of applicants’ social media activity.
These increased controls led to the postponement of many H-1B visa interviews across India, delaying them by several months and preventing some visa holders who traveled to India for visa stamping from returning to the United States.
The department reiterated that a US visa is a privilege rather than a right, and said it relies on all available information during the screening process to identify applicants who are ineligible or who may pose a risk to national security or public safety.
