USA Post-study work - PR & settlement
53 questions
Expert Answers
What is a realistic path for a tier three engineering graduate to eventually work in the USA as an AI engineer?
→Yes, it is realistic, but you need a verifiable skills portfolio, not just your degree, plus a legal bridge to the US. Build strength in PyTorch, RAG and MLOps, prove it through Kaggle rankings or open-source work, then use a US master's for STEM OPT or an MNC transfer route.
What alternatives should Indian students consider if the bill threatening the US student work visa route becomes law?
→If OPT or STEM OPT gets restricted, pivot toward destinations with legislated post-study work rights such as Germany's 18-month visa, the UK's 2 to 3 year Graduate Route, Canada's 3-year PGWP or Australia's Temporary Graduate visa. If staying in the US, target cap-exempt employers instead.
Is it wise for an experienced software engineer to pursue a master's in electronics in the USA given immigration concerns?
→This is a high-risk, low-reward move: switching from software experience into an electronics degree invites USCIS scrutiny and paperwork delays when you later apply for software H-1B roles, so if you must pivot, choose a Computer Engineering or ECE program with a software track instead of pure electronics.
Is applying to US universities for computer science still worth it for Indian students given immigration uncertainty?
→Yes, if your goal is elite education and global career leverage rather than a guaranteed path to permanent residency, since H-1B lottery odds sit near 3 to 4 percent; it is not worth it if you are relying on heavy debt and a lower-tier program.
How do Indian students in the US typically obtain a green card, through EB1 or EB5?
→Neither is the typical route. Most Indian students go through employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 after working on OPT and winning the H-1B lottery, then wait through a long backlog. EB-5 requires an eight hundred thousand dollar investment, usually from wealthy parents, while EB-1 demands extraordinary ability few fresh graduates hold.
Given companies increasingly refusing H1B sponsorship, is pursuing a bachelor's in engineering in the USA still worth it for AI/ML careers?
→Yes, a US engineering bachelors for AI or ML still holds real value, but you can no longer count on the standard H-1B lottery. Use your 3 year STEM OPT window to build toward alternatives like the O-1A visa, the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, or cap exempt roles at universities.
Does the new $100,000 H-1B fee apply to international students switching their status from F-1 to H-1B?
→No, the $100,000 H-1B fee does not apply to F-1 students changing status to H-1B from inside the United States. USCIS guidance confirms the fee applies only to new petitions requiring consular processing for workers outside the US, so change of status, extensions and employer changes remain exempt.
All Questions (53)
What is a realistic path for a tier three engineering graduate to eventually work in the USA as an AI engineer?
→What alternatives should Indian students consider if the bill threatening the US student work visa route becomes law?
→Is it wise for an experienced software engineer to pursue a master's in electronics in the USA given immigration concerns?
→Is applying to US universities for computer science still worth it for Indian students given immigration uncertainty?
→Given companies increasingly refusing H1B sponsorship, is pursuing a bachelor's in engineering in the USA still worth it for AI/ML careers?
→Does the new $100,000 H-1B fee apply to international students switching their status from F-1 to H-1B?
→Is Russia a good option for Indian students pursuing MBBS abroad who plan to return and practice medicine in India?
→Is a BSc in biotechnology from Germany a good option for job prospects and settling there afterward?
→What abroad study or work options exist after a B.Tech in Production and Industrial Engineering, particularly for Australia?
→Is my daughter planning to settle down abroad with permanent residency or just study in Singapore/USA for a Master's?
→What are the visa options for PR countries for someone with my profile in Ireland/New Zealand for a Master's?
→What are the future career and settlement options after studying abroad in UK/Australia for a Master's?
→What factors should I consider now regarding post-study work opportunities, PR options, and job prospects after completing my masters abroad?
→Can you suggest which intake would be best for me to apply to for my masters abroad, September or January?
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