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Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trump's ‘One Big Beautiful Bill' a blow to Indian students in US? $170 billion funds allocated for ICE; 1% remittance tax adds to burden
AI-generated image The recently enacted Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' is potentially turning out to another blow to Indian students in the United States by allocating approximately $170 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for expanding deportation operations. This legislation strengthens enforcement agencies' authority to monitor local communities and track visa violations, according to study abroad platform executives. Students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) face heightened risks, as even minimal delays in securing employment or exceeding visa duration could result in severe penalties. Additionally, the legislation's new 1% remittance tax is anticipated to impact students who transfer funds to their home country for family support or loan repayments. "Even a small tax can affect low-income students — every dollar counts when supporting tuition or families back home," said Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, quoted by Economic Times. This taxation applies to international transfers by F-1 student visa holders, H-1B workers, and green card holders using traditional payment methods. A $10 tax would apply to a $1,000 transfer to India. Students paying full fees without scholarships will not be subject to this tax, which becomes effective after January 1, 2026. Education consultants view this tax as a minor inconvenience rather than a significant barrier. "A 1% rate is annoying, not prohibitive," said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, as quoted by ET. "Students are resourceful; they'll adapt by consolidating transfers, exploring digital wallets, or simply factoring it into their budget," he added. The tax represents an additional concern for Indian students in the US. Since January, increased scrutiny of non-immigrant visa holders and deportation of unauthorised residents has heightened anxiety. Recent intensification of visa procedures and social media monitoring has caused unease. "Students are becoming hypervigilant about everything – their social media presence, their financial transactions, their visa status," Jain of ForeignAdmits said. "This tax is just adding to the paranoia." Experts report that students and visa applicants are removing previous social media content and exercising increased caution regarding their online activities. The legislation also reduces federal support, including Medicaid and SNAP benefits for state colleges, which previously assisted numerous students. This reduction might increase institutions' reliance on international students paying full fees, who are exempt from the new remittance tax. Nevertheless, only a small proportion of Indian students attend prestigious US universities at full cost, with most relying on financial assistance or attending mid-tier institutions. Education experts suggest that prospective Indian students might now consider alternative study destinations. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Economic Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Indian students on thin ICE in US over new law. Immigration crackdown to get $170 bn; job search under stress
Agencies This is an AI-generated image. The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' that President Donald Trump signed into law early this month delivers another setback to Indian students in the US, injecting nearly $170 billion into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expand its hardline deportation empowers enforcement agencies to extend their reach into local communities and actively pursue visa overstays, top executives at study abroad platforms said. For Indian graduates on Optional Practical Training (OPT) – a temporary employment authorisation to gain work experience in their field of study – even brief delays in finding work, or overstaying by just one day, could now lead to serious consequences. In addition, the 1% remittance tax introduced as part of the Act is expected to hit many students who send money back home to support their families or repay loans. 'Even a small tax can affect low-income students — every dollar counts when supporting tuition or families back home,' said Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify. The tax will apply to foreign remittances made by not just H-1B or green card holders but F-1 student visa holders as well, using cash-like methods (cash, money orders, cashier's checks). For instance, a $1,000 transfer to India would incur a $10 students going on full fee and no scholarship will be spared from the tax, which will apply to transfers made after January 1, 2026. Tax Troubles & Stricter Screening Some study abroad experts see the tax as a temporary blip rather than a major deterrent. 'A 1% rate is annoying, not prohibitive,' said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits. 'Students are resourceful; they'll adapt by consolidating transfers, exploring digital wallets, or simply factoring it into their budget,' he Zaveri, joint managing director of Career Mosaic, and Lindsey Lopez, head of US operations at Applyboard, said postgraduate students and recent graduates working on OPT or H-1B often send money to support families, pay off loans, or invest in tax is just one more source of anxiety for Indian students in the US. Since January, they have been under increasing stress as the new Trump administration started tightening scrutiny of non-immigrant visa holders and deporting illegal immigrants. Stricter visa process and screening of social media posts in recent months have put students on edge. 'Students are becoming hypervigilant about everything – their social media presence, their financial transactions, their visa status,' Jain of ForeignAdmits said. 'This tax is just adding to the paranoia.'Students and visa applicants are mostly deleting old social media posts and being extra careful about their online activities, experts One Big Beautiful Bill Act also cuts federal support such as Medicaid and SNAP – a federal food purchase assistance funding programme for the poor that has been available to many students as well – to state may force most of these institutions to rely more on full fee-paying international students, who are exempted from the new remittance only a small fraction of Indian students in the US attend Ivy League institutes at full cost. Most are dependent on some form of financial aid or attend mid-tier Indian students looking to study abroad may now consider other destinations, experts said.'The US may become even more attractive for Ivy League-bound, research-driven students,' said Khandelwal of Collegify. 'But mid-tier aspirants may pivot to Canada or Europe, where the welcome mat feels more genuine.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. What's keeping real retail investors out of the Nvidia rally Instagram and YouTube make billions off creators. Should they pay up for their mental health? Markets need to see more than profits from Oyo The hybrid vs. EV rivalry: Why Maruti and Mahindra pull in different directions. What's best? Stock Radar: Why is CDSL looking an attractive buy at current levels? Check target & stop loss for long positions Get ready for volatility with the big, better & experienced. 7 large-caps from different sectors with an upside potential of up to 39% Buy, Sell or Hold: Motilal Oswal sees over 20% upside in Tech Mahindra; YES Securities maintains add call on ICICI Lombard Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Economic Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Students go Jekyll and hide online to pass visa scrutiny
Representative image. New Delhi: About three years ago, Sameer (name changed to protect identity) was attending a college on the East Coast where he was on the editorial team of his student magazine. Yet, his name was conspicuously absent from any articles critical of US government policies. The student deliberately kept a low profile in public. Online, though, he was bolder. As the admin of a spoof Instagram account, Sameer posted memes mocking then-presidential candidate Donald Trump's immigration policies and voiced support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Now, in 2025, the same student is preparing to move to the West Coast for his master's degree and is staring down the US State Department's advisory to disclose all social media handles used over the past five years. To ensure a clean slate, he turned to a "digital undertaker" - a professional who sanitises online presence, effectively scrubbing away years of potentially problematic posts. Sameer is not alone. Indian students seeking to study in the US are walking a fine line between digital expression and caution, say experts. Dreams at Risk They are finding ways to game the system—curating public profiles while offloading their real thoughts to 'spam' or pseudonymous accounts, using encrypted apps and niche platforms. 'Students applying for F, M or J visas have been creating alternative social media accounts for some time,' said Manisha Zaveri, joint managing director of Career Mosaic. 'It allows students to maintain a curated, public-facing profile for visa scrutiny while preserving a private space for personal expression.' Zaveri said these dual identities are not new, but the motivations have evolved. What once began as a teenage desire for anonymity now serves a more strategic purpose, say Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits, noted a sharp rise in digital self-monitoring since the Israel-Gaza conflict flared up in 2023.'Some students have deleted their LinkedIn accounts altogether. Others have erased pro-Palestine posts after realising that their study-abroad dreams might be at risk,' he has built AI tools to pre-screen social media profiles for potential red flags, and consultations now routinely include deep dives into students' digital he warns against abrupt deletions. Given the possibility of embassies serving notices to social media platforms to provide additional access to certain suspect profiles on the pretext of national security, he said, 'Visa counsellors have advised students not to delete posts abruptly, warning that sudden changes could also raise red flags.'Students are now in a Catch-22 situation. Jain adds 'Your online persona now carries legal weight. It is not just about filtering out hate speech or extremist views. It is about every casual political opinion, every meme, every reposted reel from your student days.'Vibha Kagzi, founder of advises students to steer clear of certain topics: 'Consular officers will look for posts, comments, or associations that indicate hostility towards the US, connections with banned groups, or hateful commentary.'For Sachin Jain, country manager India and South Asia, ETS India, this digital duality is less a red flag and more a sign of sophistication.'Students are learning to treat online identity as an extension of their application. They are segmenting communication, with one profile for university interactions and another reserved for peer networks,' he shift, he argues, is part of a broadening of digital literacy, where students are segmenting their audiences just as professionals are simply relocating their online personas to alternative platforms that offer anonymity and addition to platforms like Telegram and Discord, nowadays 'students are increasingly using Reddit to express themselves openly as it doesn't reveal their original identity,' said Aditya Shanker Raghuwanshi, founder of Masterclass communication over Snapchat has also become an alternative due to its built-in privacy features and focus on ephemeral content, he added. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. The bike taxi dreams of Rapido, Uber, and Ola just got a jolt. But they're winning public favour Second only to L&T, but controversies may weaken this infra powerhouse's growth story Punit Goenka reloads Zee with Bullet and OTT focus. Can he beat mighty rivals? 3 critical hurdles in India's quest for rare earth independence HDB Financial may be cheaper than Bajaj Fin, but what about returns? Why Sebi must give up veto power over market infra institutions These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 23% return in 1 year, according to analysts Are short-term headwinds from China an opportunity? 8 auto stocks: Time to be contrarian? Buy, Sell or Hold: Motilal Oswal initiates coverage on Supreme Industries; UBS initiates coverage on PNB Housing
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-Pakistan tensions make many rethink study-abroad plans
Amidst heightened India-Pakistan tensions, the education-abroad market initially faced uncertainty as parents reconsidered plans due to safety and financial concerns. While the ceasefire offers some relief, anxieties persist, prompting families to weigh alternative options. Experts advise against hasty decisions, emphasizing long-term aspirations and financial preparedness, though some consultants foresee limited impact on study abroad numbers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The education-abroad market may see a hit in the short term as many parents and students are reconsidering their foreign study plans due to concerns over safety, travel and even finance amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, said experts. They don't expect the ceasefire that the two countries announced on Saturday to immediately alter the sentiment. Education consultants have been flooded with queries over the past few days from people considering study-abroad options. With a ceasefire in place, the apprehensions may ease a bit but not disappear until normalcy is restored, they said."While the ceasefire brings temporary relief, uncertainty still prevails. Over the past 72 hours, we've seen a surge in queries—families are increasingly asking whether to proceed with study-abroad plans or explore alternative options,' said Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, a college-admissions they said, many parents were reconsidering study-abroad plans for their children due to worries about the potential financial hit as a fallout of the conflict.A businessman from a tier-2 city, whose daughter was set to go abroad this year, has instead decided to send her to an Indian university because his income was 'not guaranteed anymore' and consider a master's degree abroad depending on the situation then. However, with the ceasefire in place, these plans may shift again, he told advises against making hasty decisions. 'Our advice to students and families is not to abandon long-term aspirations because of short-term disruptions. Plan smartly and build financial buffers,' said people may now wait for more clarity before making a decision, said education consultants.'Until the conflict is completely resolved there could be short-term dips in study abroad applications, particularly among economically vulnerable families,' said Nikhil Jain, founder of ForeignAdmits Travel disruptions and economic strain could make studying abroad less affordable, he parents may also see studying abroad as a way to ensure their children's safety and protection from any future disruptions in India, said conflicts may have an impact on people's earnings and their capability to pay, according to Kamlesh Vyas, partner, Deloitte India. "We may have situations where parents can no longer afford foreign education (in case things worsen),' he with the ceasefire in place, some students who have firmed up plans to study abroad are advancing their travel some consultants, like study abroad platform Career Mosaic, do not see any significant impact on the number of Indian students planning to study abroad. 'While students are aware of the geopolitical situation, they continue to prioritise their long-term academic and career objectives,' said Career Mosaic founder Abhijit are largely sticking to their plans, he said, adding: 'In case tensions rise, we anticipate the impact on India's study abroad market would be limited and temporary.'The real impact of this on Indian students wanting to go abroad would only be visible in the coming weeks and months, said experts.
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Business Standard
04-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Missed NEET cutoff? Russian, Ukrainian universities say no worries
Russia, and Ukraine's universities eye Indian medical aspirants falling short of NEET cutoff; low tuition fees and globally recognised degrees continue to lure students, despite geopolitical tensions New Delhi Despite the continuing conflict, universities in Russia and Ukraine are intensifying efforts to attract Indian medical aspirants, especially those who fall short of the NEET-UG cutoff, reported The Economic Times. Even students appearing for the exam today are being courted with offers of easy admission, no entrance tests, and affordable, English-taught medical degrees. According to the report, students at a dental college in Greater Noida said they had been inundated with YouTube and Instagram ads from Russian and Ukrainian institutions. These ads tout 'world-class infrastructure' and a smooth path to a medical career, without the intense competition of Indian entrance exams. Low fees, no exams drive student interest Before the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022, Russia had already become the leading overseas destination for Indian medical students, with around 25,000 to 30,000 students enrolled, said Nikhil Jain, CEO and founder of ForeignAdmits, according to the report. 'Even amid the conflict, the number of Indian students in Russia hasn't seen a major drop. In fact, it increased by nearly 34 per in 2024,' Jain said. He attributed this to several factors: annual tuition fees between $3,000 and $7,000, much lower than in Indian private medical colleges, along with global recognition of degrees by WHO and NMC, and the absence of entrance exams at many Russian universities. The report quoted Akshay Chaturvedi, CEO and founder of LeverageEdu, saying that interest is picking up as Russian and Ukrainian medical universities ramp up their outreach in India. He stated, "in just six weeks, we've partnered with over 20 universities and have been given exclusive representation rights for several institutions entering the Indian market for the first time." Flexible norms and digital targeting expand reach According to Chaturvedi, many Russian universities have eased admission norms and are offering scholarships to woo international students. Ukrainian institutions, he added, are offering credit transfers and hybrid learning to support returning students. Ashok Varma, partner in the social sector at Grant Thornton Bharat, told the Economic Times that students' choices are increasingly influenced by algorithm-driven content. 'Much of this content likely appears organically, triggered by rising search volumes from students anxious about NEET cutoffs and the scarcity of government medical seats,' he said. Ceasefire talks rekindle interest in Ukraine Traditionally, Indian students have been approached by agents rather than the universities themselves. However, ongoing ceasefire negotiations could shift that dynamic. 'The ceasefire talks may have a ripple effect,' said Vaibhav Gupta, co-founder and chief marketing officer at iSchoolConnect. 'If the discussions succeed, student inflow could increase.' He added, 'I'm not sure if the numbers will return to pre-war levels, but we expect around 3,000 Indian students to potentially return to Ukraine.' NEET UG 2025 to be held today The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NEET-UG 2025 examination today across 5,453 centres in India and 13 cities abroad. More than 2.3 million candidates have registered for the exam, which will be held from 2 PM to 5 PM, according to news agency PTI. Mock drills were conducted at all centres on Saturday to ensure smooth operations. The NTA has also stepped up efforts against misinformation, targeting social media accounts and groups spreading false claims. State governments are on high alert to curb malpractice.
