Many are urging their children to return home immediately after completing their education, rather than staying back and working for unregistered firms.
Hyderabad: Parents of Indian students legally studying in the United States are increasingly worried about the threat of deportation if they infringe on local laws especially with regard to employment. Some students pick up jobs off-the-radar to sustain themselves, and parents fear this could put them on the wrong side of visa rules.
Many are urging their children to return home immediately after completing their education, rather than staying back and working for unregistered firms.
Several parents told Deccan Chronicle that they fear their children’s future in the US. “My son went there with big dreams, but every day, I hear news of deportations or immigration troubles,” said C. Prabhakar Yadav, whose son is in his second year of a master’s programme at a private university in Texas.
“We are deeply concerned. If he faces immigration issues or gets deported, it will be a huge setback for his career. I keep advising him to stay away from illegal jobs and return home as soon as he completes his course,” he added.
Beyond immigration concerns, parents are also worried about rising crimes against Indian students. “Recently, we heard about a student being shot in a robbery in Washington. My daughter is studying in Ohio, and I fear for her safety,” said Lakshmi Devi.
She added that her daughter calls at odd hours due to the time difference, leaving her constantly on edge. “These days, I can’t sleep peacefully,” she admitted.
Many Indian students take up part-time jobs to manage expenses while studying or job hunting, but parents are cautioning them against working for unregistered companies.
Ramakrishna Rao, whose son is searching for a job in Wisconsin, shared a similar concern. “My nephew’s visa was cancelled because he worked at a company that wasn’t authorised to hire international students. I keep warning my son not to take risks.”
The concern isn't limited to the US. With regulatory changes affecting international students in multiple countries, many parents are urging their children to return home.
“My son is pursuing a master’s in computer science in Australia, but with the changing policies, we are very worried about his career. He is a bright student, but I fear his future might be at risk,” said Sujatha Reddy, whose son is about to complete his degree in Melbourne.
She added that he will return to India and look for opportunities here rather than risk an uncertain future abroad.
