Indian students stay back in US on OPT despite layoffs
Image for representational purpose only
By: Pune Pulse
November 15, 2023
Pune: Long-term layoffs, issues with visas and job uncertainty haven’t stopped Indian students studying in the United States from returning for employment.
As per information, India is now the country that sends the second-most students to the US.
According to the Washington, DC-based Open Doors 2023 report, there has been a notable upsurge, with the number of Indian students reaching a record high of 268,923 in the academic year 2022–2023—a remarkable 35% increase over the previous year.
With 289,526 students migrating to the US, China remained the top country, but it saw a slight decrease of -0.2% from the previous year. According to the Open Doors report, there was a noteworthy 12% increase in the overall number of international students enrolled in US universities during the 2022–2023 academic year, with 1,057,188 students.
The notable rise in graduate student enrollment, which reached 165,936, and the 16% increase in undergraduate enrollment, which reached 31,954, are the main causes of India’s significant increase in student enrollment. Additionally, 1.3% more people participated in OPT, totalling 69,062. For Indian students studying in the US, STEM subjects—mathematics and computer science in particular—remain the top choices.
In response to questions regarding employment prospects, an official highlighted the strong desire of Indian students to pursue further education in the US, with OPT data indicating a 17% increase overall in the Fall 2023 snapshot. According to the report, there have been 198,793 international students enrolled on OPT, an increase of 8% from the previous year.
Additionally, according to the Fall 2023 international student enrollment snapshot, there will be 8% more international students enrolled in US universities, with 70% of them giving priority to undergraduate outreach and 80% to graduate outreach for students from India. According to the report, there has been a 14% increase in first-time enrollment year over year, indicating that the US remains a highly sought-after destination for Indian students.
