Indians studying in the US are a worried lot, anticipating strict action against illegal immigrants and tightening of visa policies with Donald Trump beginning his second term as US president, say experts. Many of those who were working beyond 20 hours per week or working outside the campuses have quit such part-time jobs; those who have just entered the workforce after completing their studies are worried about their visa status; others who were considering the US as their only option for study abroad are now also looking at Europe and Australia. A few have also changed their travel plans to the US. Indian students, primarily on F-1 visas, are typically permitted to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week. Study abroad consultants including Leverage.biz, Collegify, ForeignAdmits, EduVib, Career Mosaic and IDP are in constant touch with the students and guiding them against any actions that may hamper their stay in the US. This is especially true for those who have been working off-campus or exceeding the 20- hour weekly limit.“These students are now relinquishing such part-time jobs, which could jeopardise their legal status in the US,” said Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of Collegify. Piyush Kumar, regional director, South Asia at IDP Education said, “Trump is against undocumented workers. Hence, international students abiding by F1 visa regulations need not worry.” 117561642 However, students currently in optional practical training (OPT)—a temporary employment related to student’s area of study—or those looking for internships are finding it hard to get a job “due to market slowdown”, Kumar added. ForeignAdmits founder-CEO Nikhil Jain is also in touch with many students. “One of my students who graduated 3 years ago is married and working at an MNC. He is now worried about his newborn child's future.” Trump issued ten executive orders and proclamations seeking to change US immigration law and policy. The order on birthright citizenship and potential OPT curbs are causing anxiety. Many students in the master’s programmes have changed travel plans due to visa uncertainties, said Jain. “An MBA student in a work from home model has just also quit. He made $150-200 a week. He says it is not worth the risk,” said Khandelwal. Tuition costs in the last decade have doubled, as have living expenses, say experts. Most students make do by taking part-time jobs, most of which are offcampus. A few students are also exploring backup options in countries like Germany, France and Australia, experts said. “Fear of deportation have pushed many students into financial uncertainty,” said Waseem Javed, founder-CEO of EduVib. Akshay Chaturvedi, founder of Leverage.biz, said despite all odds India’s STEM talent is most sought-after globally. “H-1B is in a bit of a tough spot, but pathways likeemployer-specific work visas continue to hold steady.”