Indians’ Dream of Going to the U.S. Is Crumbling — These Numbers Will Shock You!

Business News: Indians working in the United States are finding it increasingly difficult to get there. It’s not just the shortage of H-1B visas, but there has also been a steep decline in other crucial visas for Indian families and students — such as H4 (for family members), F1 (for students), L1 (for company transfers) and L2 (for family members of these visa holders). According to a report by Moneycontrol, over the last three years India has suffered the biggest losses in these visa categories, while countries like China, Nepal and Vietnam have gained.

The Numbers are Worrying

H4 visas — which are given to family members of H-1B visa holders — have dropped sharply. Only 46,982 were issued to Indians up to May this year, compared to 71,130 in the same period in 2023 — a massive 34% decline. Meanwhile, Mexico has doubled its H4 visas, and Ghana, South Africa and the Philippines have also seen rapid growth. China too has recorded a 10.7% rise in this visa category. The situation with F1 visas for students is even more alarming. India received about 17,800 of these visas in 2023, but that number has now fallen to just 11,484 — a decline of around 35%. In contrast, China has seen a nearly 10% increase, Vietnam more than 40%, and Nepal a staggering rise of over 260%. African countries like Zimbabwe and Kenya have also seen triple-digit growth. L1 visas — which are for intra-company transfers — have also fallen for India by about 28%. Alongside this, L2 visas have dropped by roughly 38%. Meanwhile, China has recorded a striking 64% and 43% increase in these categories. Countries like Israel, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brazil have also benefitted significantly in L1 and L2 visas.

Why Has India Fallen Behind in South Asia?

Compared to other South Asian countries, India has taken the hardest hit. Nepal has seen an astonishing 262% increase in F1 visas and 113% in L2 visas. Bangladesh has recorded a modest 28% rise in H4 visas and 5% in F1 visas. Pakistan has nearly doubled its F1 visas and increased H4 visas by 40%. Sri Lanka has mixed results, with H4 visas rising but student visas falling. According to the report, the number of H-1B visas has dropped by more than 37% over the last two years. This has affected not only professionals but also their families and educational opportunities. On top of this, the U.S. government’s new proposal to impose an annual fee of $100,000 for H-1B visas has become an even heavier burden on Indian applicants’ hopes.