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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and Parikh Worldwide Media does not officially endorse, and is not responsible or liable for them. - Continued On Page 5 Trump’s Immigration CurbsMake Indian Students Rethink The American Dream P aridhi Upadhaya was packing her bags after secur- ing a computer science scholarship in the U.S. until headlines of President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa crackdown last week prompted her family in Lucknow, India to scrap the plan. “Trump’s unending onslaught against immigrants is forcing us to consider other destinations for her,” the 18-year-old’s father Rudar Pratap said. Upadhaya is among thousands of Indians for whom the American dream of world-class education, lucra- tive careers, better quality of life and social mobility, is turning sour due to rising U.S. visa restrictions and policy unpredictability. For decades, the H-1B visa has been the gateway to a new life: a chance for young engineers and scientists from India, China and other countries to turn years of study into high-paying jobs and the possibility of perma- nent residency. But last week, Trump said new H-1B visa applica- tions would cost $100,000, up from the roughly $2,000 to $5,000 employers were paying to sponsor workers. Over 13,000 kilometres (8,000 miles) from Lucknow in Dallas, Texas, an Indian student pursuing a master’s degree in computer science is staring at $80,000 in debt and an uncertain future. “Right now, the only aim is to finish my degree, find an internship, and try to recover my debt,” said the student, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted by immigration officials. “I’ll move to Canada or Europe — anywhere that actu- ally wants us.” H-1B VISA: GATEWAY NOW CLOSING? While supporters credit H-1B visas with bringing in vi- tal talent, Trump argues it suppresses wages and sidelines qualified U.S. workers, making it one of the country’s most divisive immigration policies. Some of the high-profile Indians who used the pro- gram include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Google parent Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, all of whom arrived in the U.S. as students. India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, U.S. govern- ment data showed. The H-1B visa, typically issued for three years and re- newable for another three, has enabled U.S. tech firms to hire millions of skilled foreign workers to fill talent gaps. Foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities often use the Optional Practical Training program to get work experience and then obtain the H-1B. The visa has become the key bridge to long-term employment and, for many, permanent residency – the coveted Green Card. But young Indians are now rethinking their plans to pursue higher studies and careers in the U.S. and scoping other immigrant-friendly destinations, education consul- tants, professors and students told Reuters. “Many students and parents are now in ‘wait and watch’ mode, weighing options like the UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand,” said Piyush Kumar of IDP Education. The U.S. hosted 465,000 Indian students in 2023, the most among 1.3 million abroad, followed by Canada, the UK and Australia, Indian government data showed. “Students are asking for a Plan B upfront because return on investment matters,” Patlolla Bharath Reddy, managing partner at Uni Planet Overseas Education, said. Others are urging students to look at the longer term. “We’ve been reassuring them that the order may face legal hurdles and things could change by the time they graduate,” said KP Singh of overseas education consul- tancy IMFS. AS U.S. SHUTS BORDERS, CHINA OPENS DOORS Countries including China, South Korea, UK and Ger- many are actively seeking to redirect foreign talent. Philipp Ackermann, the German ambassador to India, said in a post on X this week that his country’s migra- tion policy is “like a German car – reliable, modern, and predictable”. An Indian computer science student at the University of Minnesota is considering Germany over the U.S. for further studies, citing stable immigration policies, strong demand for skilled workers and affordable, high-quality education. “Someone from a rural background like me is unlikely to be able to afford staying here,” he said. While Germany offers stability, China is aggressively recruiting global talent with new incentives. Beijing has unveiled a new visa category that will allow successful applicants to enter, study, and work in China without having first received a job offer or research posi- tion. On the day Trump signed the $100,000 H-1B visa fee, Chinese cities such as Jinan and Nanjing hosted massive job fairs targeting overseas talent — Jinan featured over 2,000 employers, while Nanjing offered more than 20,000 jobs. “Ultimately, it’s a losing proposition for America,” Dee- pa Ollapally, research professor at GeorgeWashington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, said. -Reuters The Post-American Order Starts In Riyadh And Islamabad News India Times (September 27, 2025 - October 3, 2025) October 3, 2025 4 Opinion By Chandini Monnappa, Rishika Sadam and Manoj Kumar G iven the long history of cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, it’s tempting to dis- miss their announcement last week of a mutual security pact as mere paperwork, formalizing a relationship that already exists. But it’s much more than that. This is the first concrete indication of what a post- American world might look like – one that is far more insecure, unstable, and unhappy. The two nations were indeed close for decades. In 1967 – two months after Israel’s victory in the Six-DayWar – they signed a security agreement in which Pakistan’s battle-hardened military promised training and support to the Kingdom. Two years later, their pilots flew for Saudi Arabia in its war against communist South Yemen. By the 1980s, the generals in Rawalpindi had sent their ally 15,000 soldiers to help protect a regime unnerved by the siege of Mecca in 1979. There were even Pakistani tanks stationed at Tabuk near the Kingdom’s northwest border, a short drive from Israel’s Red Sea port of Eilat. But such closeness seemed consigned to the history books in 2015 after Pakistan’s National Assembly unex- pectedly defied Riyadh – and perhaps their own military – by refusing to send soldiers to fight the Houthis. The Saudis were outraged, especially since they had long been bankrolling their increasingly improvident friends: They’d sent over a “gift” of $1.5 billion the previ- ous year. But Chinese money had begun to flow as well, and the petrodollar was no longer the only game in town. The civilian politicians in Islamabad felt they could take a few risks, and reclaim a bit of sovereignty. In the decade that followed, Saudi Arabia instead de- veloped an ever-closer relationship with India. Its grants to Pakistan became loans that have to be paid back or rolled over. The Chinese, meanwhile, are now focused on buying Russia’s loyalty. Pakistan’s leaders know that they have not been able to fix the fundamental reason their country constantly teeters on the edge of bankruptcy: It buys more from the world than it has to sell. All they’ve invested in for decades is the military – and so, today, they have nothing else to offer a partner. But that is an attractive enough offer for a Riyadh that is as uncertain today as it was in the 1970s. For decades, the Gulf monarchies have relied on the US for protec- tion, support, and weapons. They have gone out of their way to woo the current president, as well. Qatar famously gave him a $400 million jet to use as Air Force One. But that didn’t stop the emirate, home to the largest US base in the Middle East as well as a hotel housing Hamas leaders, from being bombed earlier this month by Israeli jets. The Qataris insisted that any American warnings about the attack came 10 minutes after the strikes had already begun. This was the second time that Qatar has been attacked this year; in June, Iran launched missiles at the US’s Al Udeid airbase. In other words, they were successively bombed by America’s adversary and its ally, whileWash- ington itself did nothing in either case. Countries naturally think now that an apathetic US may be more trouble than it’s worth, and look for help elsewhere. That’s led the Saudis back to Pakistan, which can offer worried former American satellites something few others will: A nuclear umbrella. Riyadh’s other partners aren’t too pleased. New By Mihir Sharma PHOTO:REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo U.S. and Indian flags and U.S. H-1B Visa application forms are seen in this illustration taken, September 22, 2025.