In lieu of the COVID 19, Panadamic and America’s increasingly hostile anti-immigration policies towards expats and international students alike – begs the question, is studying in the US worth all the financial, emotional, and mental stress?
Although the July 6th ICE derivative has been rescinded – international students who are already enrolled at Universities are able to pursue online classes without having their visa canceled. The Trump Administration’s lack of consideration for international students’ mental health and safety, away from their home countries and families during a raging Pandemic is appalling.
Coupled with a complicated and difficult to navigate student visa application process, racism towards international students and an unstable political environment. Middle-Class Indian parents should rethink before stretching their finances to pay for a US degree.
Apart from that, the Trump Administration anti-immigration policies in the United States has made it difficult for Indian students to secure a job after their graduation and obtain visa permits to stay in the country. Moreover, the ban on HB1 visas has jeopardized the futures of many Indians who are currently working in America and hope to secure a green card, to permanently settle in America.
Alternative solutions for Indian students wanting to pursue education in the US
Germany:
Unlike the terrible handling of the COVID 19 pandemic by the US and UK, Germany’s robust health care system and sound leadership under Chancellor Angela Merkel has won the trust of many around the world. Within, few weeks of the pandemic, Universities in Germany shifted to online learning and continue to social distance and adhere to online learning keeping in mind the safety of students and citizens.
High quality of education, especially viable for students pursuing science fields such as Chemistry, Microbiology, Physics, and Biology research options are great with lots of Ph.D. positions available in these streams. Germany is popular for MS degrees and the certifications are internationally recognized and highly valued.
Since higher education institutes in the EU and Germany are publicly funded, state-run universities in Germany are low cost and not very expensive for international students.
However, the major caveat of studying in Germany is the language barrier. Students will have to adapt and learn the German language to be able to function in society. Secondly, securing employment after graduation for international students in Germany is tough. Companies find it difficult to hire non-EU residents due to the lengthy paperwork and bureaucratic hassle.
Also read: Feeling uncertain of the future?
Canada:
Home to many of the top-ranked universities in the world, Canada is one of the most sought after destinations for Indian students wanting to study abroad.
Emigration: Known for its friendliness towards expats and an open and well-regulated immigration system, Canada has become a top destination for Indian students who wish to settle outside of India after pursuing their education abroad.
Ease of Application and Accessibility: In 2018, the IRCC, Canada has launched the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program for Indian students, for faster student visa application processing time. Moreover, Canada has added study and work permit flexibility amid Covid-19 restrictions aimed at supporting international students affected by the pandemic.
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