Indians studying in America should be careful, government has issued a decree, you may have to lose your study visa.

Study in America: Foreign students, including Indians, going to study in America also get a chance to be a part of the Study Abroad Program. Under this, their university sends them to countries outside America to study for a few semesters, with which it has an exchange program. However, due to this, a big problem is being created for foreign students. Being out of the US for several months puts them at risk of having their F-1 visas issued to them to study get cancelled.
Recently, visa rules have also been changed in America. The new policy clearly states that F-1 visa holders can participate only in those study abroad programs which are for less than five months, so that their student status in America remains intact. If a foreign student who has gone to study in America stays out of the country for five months or more, he/she has to lose his/her F-1 visa. If this happens, he/she does not get entry into America and then his/her studies are ruined.

What was the old rule regarding study abroad?

Although the five-month rule has been in place for a long time, it previously did not apply to foreign students participating in study abroad programs as long as they were enrolled in American universities. The new rules have come into effect from the beginning of October. Because of this, there has been panic among the students who went to America to study and are currently studying abroad. Indian students are also included in this. On top of all this, there is a danger of losing the F-1 visa.

Demand raised to give time to students

American universities have expressed hope that the new rules will be changed. he/she has demanded a grace period for all those students who are currently studying abroad. Universities have said that the government should give them time, so that they can adjust themselves under this scheme and avoid losing their visas. Minerva University in San Francisco has called for a rethink of the policy to consider the circumstances of international students and the need for flexibility in study abroad programs.

New rules will affect OPT

Due to new rules of the US government, if a student attends the study abroad program for more than five months, his/her visa status will be lost. Due to this his/her OPT eligibility criteria will also be affected. OPT stands for Optional Practical Training, which allows foreign students to work in the United States. Students who go to America to study under the Study Abroad Program go to study in Bernil, Buenos Aires, Hyderabad, London, San Francisco, Seoul and Taipei.