Indian students at Harvard face uncertainty amid visa restrictions and job scarcity

Indian students at Harvard University are grappling with growing uncertainty, financial strain, and visa challenges following a series of actions by the Trump administration targeting the institution and its international student community.

“It’s just been a time of not quite knowing what to do, whether we should make our moves back home, or whether we should try and figure something out here,” said a student from the Harvard Kennedy School, who graduated last month and requested anonymity.

Several Indian students shared how the university has come under intense pressure from the US government. Measures include a freeze on $2.2 billion in grants, revoking Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, and suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused Harvard of fostering an “unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students.”

President Donald Trump recently said in a proclamation that the university had declined to provide DHS with requested information on foreign students' “known illegal activity,” “known dangerous and violent activity,” and “known threats to other students or university personnel.”

A graduate from the Harvard Graduate School of Design described recent months as a “roller coaster,” explaining how hiring hesitation toward international students has increased, even at institutions like Harvard.

“With all the uncertainty, I can say that a lot of people who are hiring were generally hesitant of international students, and maybe the Harvard tag helped earlier, but that's not the same right now at this particular moment,” she said.

Another Kennedy School graduate spoke about the current difficulty in finding employment.

“Employers have just stopped entertaining any international students, forget international students from Harvard, because our visa statuses are so volatile that who would want to employ us right now?” she said, adding that she remains unsure whether to return to India, stay in the US, or move elsewhere.

She highlighted the financial stress of high living expenses in the US, saying, “That uncertainty is a lot in a country like America where you're paying” large sums in rent. Despite the current difficulties, she believes the situation may improve with time. “But while we're caught in the crossfire, I think it’s been difficult to plan, and so it's stressful for sure.”

Students also expressed concern over how funding cuts are affecting jobs in key sectors like policy, healthcare, climate change, and public health.

The design school student recounted how, just days before graduation, the Trump administration revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, jeopardizing the legal status of current foreign students.

“We had just finished our final presentations, we were celebrating over lunch, and we saw this news. It was quite unbelievable. Six months ago, you could never predict that something like this would happen,” she said.

Still, she urged incoming students not to lose hope. “This should not discourage people. Because I think what institutions like Harvard also do is that they make you a global citizen. And if not America, people are finding pathways elsewhere,” she added.

Many Indian students had intended to work in the US for a few years to gain experience and repay student loans before returning home.

But with the growing unpredictability, some are changing course. A recent Kennedy School graduate said, “The challenges that we face on a day-to-day basis probably are in terms of job opportunities, how we plan our future, and the next steps.”

He shared that some of his classmates were dropped from job interviews once recruiters realized they were from Harvard.

“They were like, ‘That might pose a few issues later on. So we’ll move on with another candidate,” he said.

He added that more students are opting to return to India. “They have made up their mind that it’s not worth staying and then being in a state of uncertainty, away from family and home, sacrificing a lot of things for a future that remains highly, highly uncertain.”

Although the State Department has reportedly asked US consulates to resume processing student visa applications for Harvard, students remain cautious.

“All this is a signaling effect currently, which is hurting all of us a lot. Because you don’t really know what, where you can apply, or what you can do, employees are hesitant,” he said.

He also spoke with Indian students planning to start at Harvard this September. “Generally, yes, the concern has increased a lot in terms of what kind of opportunities exist, because they would be leaving a lot of things back home. The opportunity cost is higher than ever,” he explained.

While no incoming student he spoke to has been denied a visa, some are reconsidering their plans due to fears of losing funding or scholarships if they defer admission.

According to the Harvard International Office, there are 788 students and scholars from India enrolled for the 2024–25 academic year.

The university typically hosts 500–800 Indian students annually and a total of about 10,158 international students and scholars across its schools.

Reflecting on the broader situation, the Kennedy School student said, “The American Dream that used to bring students from India and elsewhere to the US has been significantly affected. It’s definitely not the same as what it used to be, even five years ago, because a lot of this damage is unrepairable.”

Despite the challenges, he acknowledged the university’s strong support for students. “The other thing that has been absolutely amazing to see is students showing more support for their international peers.”