Planning to study abroad? Think before you spend a fortune as visa requirements in the US, UK and Canada are getting stricter

Studying abroad with the aim of settling down is a very common practice among Indian students. There are many success stories that inspire many more. In recent times, a number of international students from India have managed to settle down in countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany and even in unlikely places like Poland, Austria and Sweden.

However, much to the chagrin of Indian students, visa regulations in some of these countries have changed radically, posing a challenge or at least discouraging Indian students from settling there for studies.

Here we summarize the details of the visa regulations that have been introduced in the recent past for these popular destinations:

Visa requirements for international students from India:

I. Canada: This North American destination is the queen of all study abroad destinations, especially for Indian students. However, the number of visas approved is likely to drop significantly.

Canada has announced a two-year cap on new international student visas. Immigration Minister Marc Miller shared data showing that 364,000 new permits will be issued in 2024. That’s 35 percent less than last year, when 560,000 such documents were issued.

Indian students protested against Canada’s immigration policies, which they say could lead to deportations. International students from India camped outside the legislative assembly in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI).

II. United Kingdom: According to a report by the British Council, India is the country with the highest number of graduate students in the world, recording a growth of 68 percent in 2023.

In January 2023, the UK government abolished visa requirements for students, which now prevents international students from bringing family members into the country. The only exception to this rule is students pursuing a research program such as a PhD or postdoctoral degree.

In fact, in March 2023, migrant care workers were also banned from bringing their partners and children into the country.

The new visa restrictions also prevented international students from leaving their studies and starting work before completing their studies.

III. USA: Getting an H-1B visa in America is not an easy task. But as they say today, it is just the beginning. Getting a green card can be a nightmare. Social media is full of sad stories of Indian immigrants who either struggle to get an H1B or have to wait a long time for a green card.

Many people say that it is not advisable to go to the USA to study because applying for an H1B visa after graduation could be your full-time job.

With the Republican administration under Donald Trump likely to return to the White House after the US presidential election, visa regulations for potential immigrants could become even stricter.

The good news, however, is that some other countries have simplified the visa process somewhat. Germany, for example, has reduced the processing time for work visas from nine months to two weeks. According to the German Economic Institute (IW), there were around 570,000 job vacancies in Germany in 2023.

France also announced a five-year post-study visa for students pursuing a master’s degree in 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron, as the guest of honour on Republic Day, also announced the goal of welcoming 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030. Currently, this number is around 10,000.