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<keyword id="19896882" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="canada" source="keywords">Canada</keyword> is looking at the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students to help reduce the surge in demand for housing and fix the system that has gone out of control, Immigration Minister <keyword id="19946179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marc-miller" source="keywords">Marc Miller</keyword> has said, a move that is likely to affect Indian students. The remarks by Miller came on Sunday as the federal government of Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword> faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants - both permanent and temporary residents - while the country faces an acute housing shortage. In an interview with CTV News, Miller said the federal government will need to have talks with provincial governments "to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis." "That volume is disconcerting," Miller said, in reference to the number of international students in Canada. "It's really a system that has gotten out of control." A cap on international students would not be a "one-size-fits-all solution" to housing shortages across Canada, Miller noted. But he did not reveal the size of the reduction the government is planning on making. India was the first among the top ten origin countries of study permit holders in 2022 in Canada, with a total of 319,000 students. Meanwhile, new reporting by The Canadian Press news agency - citing internal documents obtained through an access to information request - shows the federal government was warned by public servants two years ago that its ambitious immigration targets could jeopardise housing affordability. The Liberals have set targets aiming to bring in 485,000 immigrants this year, and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026. Temporary residents, largely international students and migrant workers, are another part of the equation, with more than 300,000 of them arriving in Canada in just the third quarter of last year. Miller said he will be looking in both the first and second quarter of this year at possibly setting a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing. When asked why the government is only considering a cap now, when the idea of one has been floated for months, Miller said there's a need to sort out numbers on a federal level before looking with "a little more granularity" at what individual academic institutions are doing in different provinces, possibly profiting off bringing in more international students. "We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we're actually verifying offer letters," Miller said. "And now it's time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that that is having in certain areas." When pressed further on the number of international students coming to Canada far outpacing the number of homes the federal government has announced it's planning to help build, Miller also said housing is only part of the calculation when it comes to immigration targets. The pressing need to bring down the average age of the workforce also needs to be taken into consideration, he said. And while he wouldn't give specifics, Miller said a cap on international students is something the federal government is considering, "and will continue to consider." "We have a sense of what those numbers would look like, what the reduction of those numbers looks like, out of courtesy to my colleagues in the provinces, those are discussions that we're first going to have around the negotiating table," he said, adding the financial needs of academic institutions is also a factor.

Canada mulls putting cap on international students numbers; move likely to impact Indians

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Australia plans to cut new international student enrollment by a third next year.</li><li>The cap follows a surge in international students post-pandemic, straining the rental market.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/australia-law-right-to-disconnect-ignore-calls-after-hours-work-2024-8">Australia</a> is capping new international students next year, in an effort to curb record migration.The country plans to limit <a target="_blank" class="" href=" https://www.businessinsider.com/how-employers-can-support-international-students-job-seekers-2022-3">international student</a> enrollments to 270,000 in 2025, Australian education minister announced on Tuesday. In 2023, there were just over 400,000 new international students."There's about 10% more <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/studying-abroad-in-north-korea-isolating-surreal-friendships-made-2024-7">international students</a> in our universities today than before the pandemic, and about 50% more in our private vocational and training providers," education minister Jason Clare said in a press briefing on Tuesday. "These reforms are designed to make it better and fairer, and set it up on a more sustainable footing going forward."The government will assign each university or vocational institute an individual limit.Australia has about 718,000 total <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-visa-moved-usa-canada-immigrants-2024-7">international students</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-diplomat-chinese-students-should-not-access-sensitive-tech-2024-6">primarily from China</a>, India, and Nepal, according to 2024 education department <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.education.gov.au/international-education-data-and-research/international-student-numbers-country-state-and-territory">figures</a>.Curbs on migration were first announced in December, when Australia said it would tighten visa scrutiny for graduates and require students to secure higher scores on their English proficiency tests.The restrictions come after a period of concessions to encourage foreign workers and students who left during the pandemic to return to Australia. That created an influx of foreigners, which worsened the pressure on the country's tight rental market.Clare added that the restrictions will also limit the amount of "shonks" — people and businesses exploiting the demand for international education in Australia. Authorities have previously said that some providers participate in unethical practices or scams, such as recruiting students who are not proficient enough in English to do well, luring students with the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/26/fraudulent-course-providers-face-closure-in-labors-international-education-crackdown">promises of jobs</a>, or promising tuition fee discounts to those who recruit other students.Canada announced similar limitations earlier this year, in an effort to bring down the costs of buying and renting homes.Canada's immigration agency said in January that it will cap the number of acceptances for international study permits. The move is expected to cut the number of students by 35% compared to last year and reduce the number of "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10241346/international-student-visas-canada/">puppy mills</a>" that provide poor-quality education.According to a study by education consultant IDP, the US, Australia, the UK, and Canada are hotspots for those seeking international education, with countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Ireland gaining interest in recent years.Since May 2023, the UK has clamped down on international students bringing their families on all student visas, except postgraduate research and those with government scholarships. The changes have also reduced the number of people using student passes as a loophole to work. The government <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tough-government-action-on-student-visas-comes-into-effect">forecast</a> that the changes would lead to 140,000 fewer people coming to the country.In the US, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-lottery-changes-benefit-startups-hiring-immigrants-2024-2">dwindling chances</a> of landing a work visa after graduation because of the H-1B lottery system have made the country less attractive for some foreign students. A Trump-era executive order <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2021/08/10/biden-keeps-costly-trump-visa-policy-denying-chinese-grad-students/">denying visas to Chinese graduate students</a> also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/decline-china-international-students-economy-universities-trump-biden-immigration-covid-2022-8">slashed the number of enrollments.</a>

It's a terrible time to be an international student. Australia is the latest country to limit visas.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vaishali Gauba dreamed of being a journalist in the US but wasn't able to secure an H-1B visa. </li><li>Years later, Gauba secured a work visa in Canada after moving there to study. </li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Vaishali Gauba, 29, about her experience navigating the US and Canadian immigration systems. Business Insider verified her visas. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-usa-denmark-pros-prefer-america-2024-3">moved to the US</a> when I was 17, with ambitions of being a journalist.I grew up in Gurugram, India, and moved to New Jersey in 2012 for my undergraduate degree. I studied journalism, media studies, and business management at Rutgers University.I worked with major US news outlets during and after college and wanted to keep working in America, but couldn't secure an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-startups-sponsor-h1b-work-visas-2024-1">H-1B work visa</a>. I returned to India feeling defeated. Five years later, I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/english-man-moved-to-canada-loves-it-surprising-things-2023-10">relocated to Canada</a>.In Canada, I found a clearer path to securing a work permit, and I'm less worried about being uprooted by the immigration system.<h2 id="b6a8d628-2960-4ae2-bfa9-e6651b4da0a4">I interned at US media companies at university</h2>I came to the US on an F-1 visa, which is for full-time students.During my studies, I worked for the student newspaper, The Daily Targum, and also did news internships at CNBC, NBC, and CBS, which each lasted around four months.I remember having to get permission from international student services and the journalism department to do the internships, as there were restrictions around working off-campus for F-1 students. The work had to be related to my field of study.I remember feeling anxious about needing to get so many approvals to work as an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-employers-can-support-international-students-job-seekers-2022-3">international student</a>, but thankfully, I was permitted to do the internships.Working at big-name publications felt like a milestone, but it was also difficult to balance the internships with two college majors.<h2 id="76d690be-d407-4073-9d70-b7a3d889b3da">I wasn't able to secure an H-1B visa to stay in the US</h2>I became accustomed to the reality that anything related to my professional life required a lot of paperwork. I knew that to continue working in the US, I needed to apply for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ice-arrests-15-students-employed-fake-companies-to-stay-us-2020-10">optional practical training</a>, which allows F-1 students to work for a year in a field related to their studies.I graduated in May 2016, and after my OPT was approved, I started on the CBS Page Program, a rotational program for graduates.I had several assignments there, including on the evening news and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I talked with Stephen Colbert at the show's rooftop parties and saw many celebrities on the job.But my time there was limited. The Page Program lasted a year, around the time my OPT expired. After six months on the program, I asked CBS about the possibility of sponsoring me for an H-1B visa but was told they don't offer sponsorships.I didn't realize this when I started working there, but I wanted the experience and to work on my OPT, so I would have done the program regardless.I applied to other jobs, but many applications included a question about whether I'd need a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fake-name-resume-hired-guilty-2024-5">visa sponsorship</a> now or in the future. I felt that this one question was already filtering me out as a candidate and I wasn't getting called for interviews.I spoke with two lawyers about my options. They told me about the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-ukraine-tech-culture-differences-2024-5">O-1 visa</a> for people with "extraordinary" ability in certain fields. I tried gathering references for the application, but as time went on, I felt my chances were slim.This is partly because the lawyers shared case studies of people who received O-1 visas with me, and I felt they were more arts-orientated than journalism-orientated. I felt the lawyers weren't confident I had a good chance, so I decided not to apply.Extended family members and lawyers suggested I continue my education to stay in the US on another F-1 visa. I eventually decided against this as I didn't think I could learn anything about news from a school program I wasn't already learning at CBS.<h2 id="f3fc1807-fde1-4bd6-b552-e9cd476f3cef">I went back to India feeling defeated</h2>I started to feel lost. I remember lashing out at my dad on the phone when he suggested I come home, but in the end, I had a gut feeling that it was time to return to India, so <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-us-for-northern-ireland-these-cultural-differences-surprised-me-2023-9">I left the US</a> in August 2017.It felt like a defeat. I knew I wanted to be a journalist in America, but I couldn't do it. I'd given so much to the US in terms of time, energy, and money, and it was hard to accept that I had to give up on it because of visa stuff.I spent the next five years in India, working in journalism before pivoting into a brand and communications position. In 2021, I began freelancing in PR and marketing strategy.I planned on doing a master's in digital media to boost my PR career. My boyfriend at the time, who's my husband now, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-from-sydney-australia-to-canada-pros-cons-2024-5">moved to Canada</a> for his MBA in 2021, so I started exploring master's options there.<h2 id="d34eb837-2609-4a93-ba9b-25683513eb6c">I've found the Canadian immigration system to be more immigrant-friendly</h2>I came to Canada on a study permit and started my master's program at Toronto Metropolitan University in September 2022.I applied for a work visa in September 2023 after finishing my studies. While it took a long time to get my study permit because of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cicnews.com/2023/12/breaking-canadian-parliament-committee-provides-recommendations-to-address-immigration-backlogs-1240610.html#gs.bm1bft">the backlog created by COVID-19</a>, the work visa process took less than a month and was fairly easy.Graduating from my master's program made me eligible for an open work permit, which isn't tied to a specific employer. I'm self-employed as a freelancer.Unlike the US <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-lottery-changes-benefit-startups-hiring-immigrants-2024-2">H-1B process</a>, I didn't need an employer to sponsor me, and there was no lottery system.While I'm aware that some people have a hard time coming to Canada, my overall experience of Canadian immigration processes has been smooth. I feel it's more favorable to immigrants than the US processes.I couldn't get a work visa in the US, but there was a clearer and more stable path to getting one in Canada.When I left the US in 2017, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-first-week-as-president-2017-1">Donald Trump</a> had just become president. My understanding is that it's become <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-google-twitter-speak-out-against-trump-h1b-visa-freeze-2020-6">harder to get a work visa in the US</a> since.My work visa expires in October 2024, and I'm open to options for settling in Canada beyond that. Moving back to India is still a small possibility as my partner, and I have family there, but I like the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/montreal-canada-city-low-cost-of-living-quality-of-life-2024-6">quality of life in Canada</a>, and I'm less concerned about my life being uprooted here than I was in the US.

I lost my dream job in the US because I couldn't get a work visa. In Canada, the pathway has been much smoother. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>As college tuition fees soar, more American students are going abroad.</li><li>Beyond cheaper tuition, college abroad can offer multiple benefits, including exposure to new cultures.</li></ul>When it was time for Liza Jean Miezejeski to start thinking about college, she couldn't stop worrying about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/professor-student-loan-debt-suddenly-forgiven-2024-8">student debt</a>."Every time I looked, there were schools that seemed interesting, but none that was worth going into debt for," she told Business Insider.One day, while in the car with her mom, she heard on the radio that Americans were moving to Germany for free education. It sounded like a dream to her: a chance to live abroad and earn an affordable college degree.Miezejeski, then a sophomore at a Connecticut high school, started to look into it seriously. She ended up <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-gen-z-college-europe-university-abroad-prague-brussels-affordable-2024-8">attending a university in Prague</a> and then moved to Brussels for graduate school. She graduated from both schools with no debt.Miezejeski is not alone. Like her, more American students are looking abroad to complete their college education.While<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyu-student-hated-study-abroad-semester-florence-italy-2023-3"> study abroad</a> programs — which allow students to spend a semester or a year overseas — are nothing new, completing a full degree outside the US has been gaining popularity.A representative for the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit exchange organization based in New York, told BI the number of US-based students who went to college abroad has increased in the last year. "Most US colleges and universities anticipate increased or stable student participation in study abroad in the forthcoming 2024/25 academic year," the representative said. They said this includes students in non-exchange programs and those pursuing degrees overseas.James Edge, the owner of Beyond the States, a platform that helps students apply to bachelor's and master's programs abroad, said he's seen a 5 to 10% increase in students pursuing degrees abroad each year since he joined the company three years ago.Greg Kaplan, a private college admissions counselor and the author of "Earning Admission: Real Strategies for Getting Into Highly Selective Colleges," said interest has increased tenfold over the past six years. "Six years ago, if we had one student applying abroad, it was interesting," he said. Now, out of the 350 high school students his company works with yearly, 10 to 20% apply to college abroad, he said.There are several reasons for this, from an interest in specific programs to a desire to explore the world. But above all, experts and students alike have echoed the same sentiment: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-tuition-costs-too-much-make-degrees-matter-less-jobs-2023-9">college in America is too expensive</a>.<h2 id="8e99aa2f-2e09-4281-86df-d39f0ee659f3">The skyrocketing prices of college in the US</h2>According to the<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Search?query=college%20tuition&amp;query2=college%20tuition&amp;resultType=all&amp;page=1&amp;sortBy=relevance&amp;overlayDigestTableId=202707"> National Center for Education Statistics</a>, students in the US spent an average of $28,297 a year — or around $113,188 for a four-year program — on tuition and required fees at public out-of-state schools in the academic year of 2022 to 2023.These fees have risen over the years. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/see-20-years-of-tuition-growth-at-national-universities">U.S. News &amp; World Report</a> found that among the 436 colleges in its annual rankings, out-of-state tuition fees at public universities have risen by around 32% over two decades after adjustments for inflation. The same report showed that in-state tuition fees at public universities have grown by 45%.And <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-us-universities-wildly-expensive-education-tuition-fees-america-2024-3">private colleges</a> in the US can cost more than twice that much. Tuition this year at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/admission/financial-aid/undergraduate/costs/budget-costs.htm">Pepperdine University</a> in Malibu, which is ranked as one of the most expensive schools in the country, is $65,990."That sticker shock is very potent for families," said Robert Harry, an associate director of college counseling at Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut.Harry estimates that in his 15 years of experience, the number of kids who went abroad for college increased from around 1% of any given high school class to as much as 5 or 10% of a class.<h2 id="da752867-c83d-49cb-9f93-4e420a8dea12">Many have their eyes set on Europe</h2>College in Europe has become an attractive alternative. For one, tuition is generally cheaper. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://beyondthestates.com/">Beyond the States</a> lists the average tuition fee for European bachelor's programs as $7,390 a year for international students. The average is based on calculations from its database of 12,600 English-taught bachelor's programs in Europe. In some countries, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-germany-from-us-school-almost-deported-dont-regret-2023-11">Germany, public college education is free</a>, even for international students.Many European university degrees often take three years to complete, so it's also one less year of college tuition to pay for. "You get an extra year of your life back," Edge said.American students often turn to English-speaking destinations like the UK and Ireland for their education abroad. However, college advisors said other European and Asian countries, like the Netherlands and Japan, that offer English-language programs are also gaining popularity.<h2 id="c8d0dc93-f262-4e4f-96d1-cf7969c1161f">The rise in interest comes as US applications become more competitive</h2><div type="image" title="A girl and her brother on a bridge in Toulouse, France" height="900" width="1200" msid="114566917" hostid="261" sizebytes="90356"></div>In 2019, Jacob Zeidberg <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-couple-sent-both-kids-college-europe-france-spain-cost-2024-7">applied to almost 30 schools</a> in the US. He was waitlisted or rejected from all of them.A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.commonapp.org/files/FY_application_trends_end_season_report_23-24.pdf">2024 report from Common App,</a> a college application platform, showed that application volume has grown by 171% since the 2014-15 academic year. The number of applications per applicant has risen by 46% in the same timeframe, now totaling 6.65 applications per person."When the Common App became ubiquitous, it started to get <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-competitive-than-ever-get-into-college-admissions-2024-1">really hard to get into American institutions</a> just because it's so much easier to apply to so many more of them," Harry said.It's pushed some parents and students to look elsewhere.For many, Europe is the answer. "Even if you haven't done all the extracurriculars, or if you haven't taken the SATs, it is much easier to get accepted to school in Europe because the way they do admissions is slightly different," Edge, owner of Beyond the States, said.For example, he said they may focus more on the student's academic strengths than on standardized tests.Zeidberg eventually applied to Toulouse Business School in France. He said the application process was smooth and efficient, and he was accepted two weeks later."It was like night and day," his mom, Jennifer Zeidberg, told BI.<h2 id="ea928511-b08c-486a-a718-951d6f05e28a">The benefits of college abroad go beyond cost</h2>In many US colleges, students declare a major after their freshman year. Many colleges outside the US are more specialized.That system appeals to many people who are sure of their interests. "If you are definitely a math person, knowing that you can do three or four years of math and never have to write another English essay — it's intriguing for people," Harry said.Scarlett Kiaras-Attari, who grew up in Kentucky and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-student-romanticized-uk-edinburgh-scotland-oxford-college-university-london-2024-8">moved to Scotland in 2018</a> for undergrad, was one of them. "I was so interested in medieval history and Classics," she told BI. "I just knew that there was no other place that I had applied to that was really going to capture that the way that I thought Edinburgh could."<div type="image" title="A girl poses in front of Oxford University" height="2268" width="3024" msid="114566921" hostid="261" sizebytes="556072"></div>Some students also seek niche fields that can only be found abroad. Kaplan, for example, had a student who turned down programs in the US because he wanted more exposure to Formula 1 racing, which is primarily rooted in Europe. He ended up studying motorsports engineering at Oxford.For many, being able to travel easily is also a huge plus."You can just pop on a train and go right next door to Portugal or France, for example. There's just so much more opportunities for cultural engagement," said Edge.<h2 id="47862e7c-8637-4709-bca9-9464a643493b">Important considerations</h2>Although tuition fees are usually lower, college advisors said that students going abroad have to consider other costs, such as visas, daily expenditures, rent, and flights back home.They should also consider the emotional impact of moving abroad.<div type="image" title="A girl posing in front of a castle in Germany" height="903" width="1204" msid="114566918" hostid="261" sizebytes="234730"></div>Amanda Mrozek, who withdrew from Central Michigan University in her third year and moved to Germany to get her degree in 2021, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moving-germany-college-university-things-to-know-2024-7">struggled with cultural differences</a>.For example, her college in Germany lacked school spirit and a sports culture, she said. Most students also lived off-campus and went straight home after class instead of hanging out on campus."It's just not fun," she previously told BI. "I understand people will say, 'You're supposed to be learning.' But at least for me, I can learn better when I'm enjoying something about it."Harry often tells <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guide-moving-abroad-for-college-according-to-university-advisors-diploma-2024-9">students</a> they won't have a typical American college experience abroad and that they will often be in the minority of kids who go abroad."Recognize that your experience is going to be a bit different, but it doesn't mean it's any less rich or rewarding," he said.<div type="image" title="Girl sits by the window with her book in Italy" height="1886" width="2515" msid="114566920" hostid="261" sizebytes="312546"></div>In the years since graduating from high school, Miezejeski only knows of three other high school classmates who left the US: one went to Canada, and two others went to the Netherlands and Italy to study. But most of them stayed in Connecticut or studied in nearby cities like Boston and New York. Where she's from, it's not common to go abroad, but it's a slow trend, she said.Since completing her degree in 2021, she hasn't looked back.She decided to stay in Europe and pursue a master's degree in Brussels. Her master's program was one year long and cost around $4,700 — almost a fifth of what she would have paid if she had pursued a master's at the University of Connecticut, a college in her state, based on the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://bursar.uconn.edu/tuition-fees/graduate/2024-2025/">university's website</a>.More importantly, Miezejeski gained experiences money can't buy."I have friends now all over the world," she said. "I've learned about all their cultures, how they do things and their languages. I've met incredible people and learned so much. The learning does not stop."

College in the US was too expensive, so these students opted for Europe

India has temporarily suspends visa services in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> as per a notice on India Visa Application Centre Canada's website. The notice states, "Due to operational issues, with effect from 21 September, 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice." Earlier, last evening, India advised its nationals in Canada and those contemplating travel there to exercise utmost caution in view of anti-India activities in some parts of that country. The advisory came amid further deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries following Canadian Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>'s allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hardeep-Singh-Nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword> in June. "In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the advisory. It said, "Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda." "Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents," it said. The MEA said the Indian High Commission and consulates general will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Indian community in Canada. "Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant," it said in the advisory. (With text inputs from PTI)

India temporarily suspends visa services in Canada

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dalia Goldberg chose to leave the US in 2010 to earn her BA at McGill University in Canada.</li><li>During her four years in college, she experienced some culture shock and learned a new language.</li></ul>It was 2009, my <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-senior-commutes-hour-school-every-day-2024-4">senior year of high school</a> and I felt clueless.I'd never fit in particularly well at school. I enjoyed learning when I was younger, but toned down my enthusiasm when it became clear that having too many nerdy interests was "uncool." So by the time some of my peers were eagerly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/successful-ivy-league-college-application-look-insider-2024-5">filling out college applications</a> and even discussing what they might choose as a major, I was still dragging my feet.I didn't feel particularly excited about the future. What was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-skipping-college-living-paycheck-to-paycheck-2024-5">big deal about college</a>, anyway? I'd just be studying the same old subjects, preparing for some job I didn't really want. My parents took me on college visits, where we attended presentations that I listened to halfheartedly.Growing up in a Philadelphia suburb, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/miami-university-ohio-confusion-student-florida-2023-10">University of Miami</a> caught my eye. I was enamored by the lush green campus filled with flowers and fountains, just a half-hour drive from South Beach. The distance from my hometown was an added bonus. But with a whopping cost of attendance of over <a target="_blank" href="https://irsa.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/Documents/CDS1011.pdf">$50,000 per year</a> at the time (including fees, room, and board), I'd definitely have to take out student loans.Similarly, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-nyu-fresham-move-overwhelming-2023-9">NYU</a> offered the excitement of living in a big city, but the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2012/10/04/Most-Expensive-Colleges:-2012-2013.html">tuition fees nearing $60,000 per year</a> were daunting.I began filling out applications to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-public-state-universities-compared-to-ivy-harvard-jobs-2023-7">state schools</a>, a more affordable option. But I couldn't quite give up my dream of moving further away and having an adventure.<h2 id="043029b2-21db-434e-a82f-8e9ab3fa8aeb">I started looking into colleges outside the US</h2>I wanted to meet new people, explore new places, and get a fresh start. Maybe if I could get away from memories of middle-school bullies and awkward encounters with boys, I could finally start to enjoy studying again.My parents had bought me a big book of colleges, which I haphazardly flicked through while watching TV. Then, something caught my eye. Not all the colleges in the book were American; some were overseas, and those were cheaper, a lot cheaper."Can I visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-universities-in-every-country-2014-7#ireland-trinity-college-dublin-15">Trinity College Dublin</a>?" I asked my parents. But they weren't fans of this idea. Europe was far away, and going back and forth would be expensive. Would European degrees be valid in the US? There were too many variables.So I proposed a closer option: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-tuition-costs-usa-canada-england-2017-3">McGill University </a>in Montreal. It was well-known in the US and just a 1.5 hour flight from Philadelphia. You could even take the train. The costs were significantly cheaper than my other favorites: around $25,000 for the year, including room and board.<h2 id="8416f662-2e81-40fa-b741-48b225dfc14a">Deciding on Montreal came with challenges</h2>During my first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-the-life-montreal-canada-paris-of-north-america-2024-6">visit to Montreal</a>, I knew it was the place for me. I loved the narrow streets of the Old City, the plazas, the bars, and the restaurants. I also found the school appealing. I felt that this was a place where I'd be free to do things my way. I liked the independent approach to student life, with most students moving off-campus after their first year.When I went back to my high school, I pushed harder on my academic efforts than before. I studied hard in my French class, got a few letters of recommendation, and took the ACTs and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/digital-sat-test-easier-expert-2024-3">SAT subject tests</a>. Finally, I got the score I needed for admission.Leading up to graduation, I started to have cold feet. I'd be leaving all the friends I'd made in the last few years and starting completely from scratch. Did I really want to do this? Some friends thought it was cool that I was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-canada-from-us-differences-pros-cons-guns-drugs-2023-12">moving to Canada</a>, but others found it odd. Even when I explained the lower costs, it sounded too far away to them.<div type="image" title="Three college students on a couch looking at photos on a camera" height="469" width="625" msid="111390566" hostid="261" sizebytes="29658"></div>When I got to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/montreal-canada-city-low-cost-of-living-quality-of-life-2024-6">Montreal</a>, I didn't feel comfortable right away. Like any college freshman, I was somewhat anxious about being away from home for the first time, but there was also the added element of culture shock.I'd become friends with a French exchange student at my high school and spent some time in France, but I soon found the language and expressions used in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quebec-city-montreal-canada-things-to-do-history-architecture-2022-10">Quebec</a> were a lot different. I also didn't know much about Canadian culture — the slang, the history, the education system, and the way of viewing the world.At first, as I met groups of students who all knew each other from high school, I felt like it would be hard to find my place at McGill. Still, after a while, I found a good group of friends, got involved in city activities, and began feeling at home.<h2 id="eef77b24-1110-4048-a3b3-d398be15d05e">Starting my career abroad</h2>After receiving my diploma four years later, I knew I wanted to stay abroad.I applied for a post-graduate work permit that allowed me to stay in Canada, and found a job at a marketing agency where I had to speak French every day. At first, I felt intimidated. I didn't get some of the jokes and cultural references made around the office, so socializing was hard. Still, over time I began to feel more comfortable working in a second language.After a few years, I decided to move to Berlin with my partner at the time. It was hard to find work, learn German, and navigate the immigration system, but I drew on my previous experiences to help and found a remote job <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/former-teacher-side-hustle-job-youtube-english-2023-11">teaching English online</a>. We continued moving around Europe until I settled in Spain in 2018, where I started a career as a freelance content writer and journalist.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-germany-from-us-school-almost-deported-dont-regret-2023-11">Moving abroad for my degree</a> gave me the courage to pursue my own path. As I learned to figure out confusing visa situations, new cultures, and foreign language environments, I became more resilient and motivated in my career.Not having a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-to-pay-off-student-loan-debt-fast">student loan to pay off</a> was an added bonus.Got a personal essay about choosing to attend college outside the US that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: <a target="_blank" href="mailto:akarplus@businessinsider.com">akarplus@businessinsider.com</a>.

I'm an American who went to college in Canada. I'm debt-free — and I have no plans to move back to the US.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A millennial moved from the American South to Montreal in 2015 to "get cultured" and attend graduate school. </li><li>He says food, safety, healthcare, and quality of life are the biggest perks of living in Montreal. </li></ul>If you ask Dexter Linton, there aren't many downsides to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-from-massachusetts-montreal-experienced-culture-shock-2024-2">living in Montreal</a>. But it may not be enough to keep him there.The 33-year-old sales professional grew up in Arlington, Texas, attended college in Kansas, and then landed a post-graduate internship in Georgia, he told Business Insider via email. In 2015, he decided to move to Montreal on a student visa to pursue a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paying-jobs-that-require-a-masters-degree-2016-10">master's degree</a> in sports business management.In addition to attending graduate school, Linton said one of the main reasons he moved to Montreal was to "get cultured" and experience something different. The city didn't disappoint him in this regard."It's extremely cultural, great food scene, safe, bilingualism is an asset," he said.But Linton always planned to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-california-austin-texas-10-things-i-wish-i-knew-2021-1">move back to Texas</a> someday, and he said his feelings hadn't changed.In recent years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-economy-us-south-texas-florida-houston-dallas-nashville-miami-2023-12">millions of Americans</a> have moved south. Between July 2022 and 2023, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas were the three <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/state-population-growth-declines-map-moving-migration-census-2023-12">fastest-growing states</a> by population in the nation. BI has spoken with several people who've <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-texas-jobs-houston-dallas-income-taxes-weather-food-state-2023-12">relocated to the South</a> in recent years from other regions of the US and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-florida-weather-rent-fort-lauderdale-politics-healthcare-millennial-2024-2">Canada</a>. Weather, lower cost of living, and job opportunities were among the reasons they made their moves.But there are some Americans who, rather than heading south, have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-native-moving-to-canada-american-dream-2020-12">moved north to Canada</a>. US-to-Canada movers told BI they did it for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-canada-healthcare-amazon-not-paradise-welcoming-community-2024-1">more-affordable healthcare</a>, a different <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-canada-from-us-pros-cons-heathcare-home-prices-2023-12">political culture</a>, and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-canada-from-us-differences-pros-cons-guns-drugs-2023-12">fresh start</a>.For Linton, both Montreal and Texas have their pros and cons.<h2>Montreal has better healthcare and quality of life, but Texas has nicer weather and a lower cost of living</h2>While Montreal's culture initially drew him to the city, Linton said there were several more reasons he and his wife might want to raise their family there rather than in Texas."My wife often brings up the comparatives: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-misconceptions-about-canadian-healthcare-2019-11">healthcare system</a>, education quality, and overall <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-canadian-prefers-living-in-the-us-2024-1">quality of life</a>," he said.He said he also felt safer sending his children to school in Canada, given the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mom-sending-kids-private-school-keep-them-safe-from-shootings-2023-5">gun violence</a> that has occurred in the US in recent years.But Linton said he thought Texas edged out Montreal in three areas."Down south, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-california-austin-texas-10-things-i-wish-i-knew-2021-1">weather</a> is better, there are more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-economy-us-texas-austin-tech-real-estate-job-growth-2023-12">career opportunities</a>, and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-texas-from-california-florida-ny-generations-income-2023-12">cost of living is lower</a> — for now," he said.While <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/californians-moved-texas-property-tax-gave-sticker-shock-2023-11">lower housing costs</a>, for example, have drawn some people to the Lone Star State, the demand uptick associated with a booming population has caused <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leaving-texas-political-freedom-property-taxes-housing-costs-2023-11">home prices to spike</a> in recent years. Texas still has the perk of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/states-with-no-income-tax-map">no state income tax</a>.Linton said that, ultimately, being closer to his family — many of them still live in Texas — was a big reason he wanted to move back someday. But some of his wife's family live in Montreal.<h2>"You make your money in the US, and you get out before it's too late"</h2>The timing of Linton's move back to the US is very uncertain. He said it'd be difficult to relocate his family given that his children are young, but that he hoped to move back sometime over the next decade.In hindsight, Linton said he regretted moving to Montreal as early in his life as he did."If I knew what I knew today, I would have established myself in Texas while making frequent trips to Montreal to visit my wife's family instead of vice versa," he said.Linton recalled the advice of a friend, who told him, "You make your money in the US, and you get out before it's too late." Linton said the friend was alluding to strong economic opportunities in the US but insufficient support for older Americans — compared with some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-ten-countries-for-a-comfortable-retirement-2023-9#7-sweden-4">other countries</a> — to help pay for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aging-population-healthcare">healthcare costs</a> in retirement."I wish we lived in Texas now and moved to Canada later in life," Linton said.Have you recently moved to a new state or country and are willing to share your story? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jzinkula@businessinsider.com">jzinkula@businessinsider.com</a>.

A millennial who moved to Canada for the quality of life shares why he wants to go back to Texas &mdash; and why he regrets not waiting to relocate until later in life

<keyword id="3216" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="students">Students</keyword> from <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> and <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> accounted for 47 per cent of all active foreign students in the US in 2020, according to latest official figures, which also indicated a significant drop in fresh enrolments from abroad due to the impact of the pandemic. The annual report released by Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), part of <keyword id="543442" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Immigration-and-Customs-Enforcement">US Immigration and Customs Enforcement</keyword> (ICE) noted that there were 1.25 million active records in SEVIS for F-1 and M-1 students during calendar year 2020, a 17.86 per cent decrease from calendar year 2019. While an F1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic programme or English language programme at a US college or university, M-1 visa is reserved for international students attending vocational schools and technical schools. US schools saw a 72 per cent decrease in <keyword id="10961212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-international-student-enrollment">new international student enrollment</keyword> in 2020 compared to 2019, it said. New international students include those who were not enrolled in a programme of study at a US school during the previous calendar year, the report said. In August 2020, there was a 91 per cent decrease in new F-1 international student enrollment and a 72 per cent decrease in new M-1 international student enrollment at US schools. According to SEVIS, there were 382,561 students from China, followed by 207,460 students from India. China and India were followed by South Korea (68,217), Saudi Arabia (38,039), <keyword id="6356687" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="canada">Canada</keyword> (35,508) and Brazil (34,892), the report said. SEVIS is a web-based system for maintaining information on international nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the US. "Forty-seven per cent (590,021) of all active SEVIS records hailed from either China (382,561) or India (207,460) in calendar year 2020, a slight decrease from 48 per cent in calendar year 2019. While the overall number of active F-1 and M-1 student records coming from Asia decreased by 143,697 from calendar year 2019 to calendar year 2020, student record trends varied across different countries," it said. The number of students from China and India made Asia the most popular continent of origin. However, China sent fewer students in 2020 in comparison to 2019 (-91,936), as did India (-41,761). Still, 74 per cent of all international students in the United States call Asia home. Other Asian countries sent fewer students including South Korea (-15,854), Saudi Arabia (-15,244) and Japan (-10,897), it said. Forty-four per cent (552,188) of F-1 and M-1 international students in calendar year 2020 were female, while 56 per cent (698,964) were male. Among Indian students, 35 per cent were females and 65 per cent are males. For China the figures are 47 per cent are females and 53 per cent are males. Of K-12 student enrollments in 2020, 42.5 per cent were female (33,759). In addition, 44 per cent (194,558) of bachelor's and master's international students were female, 50 per cent (42,608) of international students seeking associate degrees were female and 39 per cent (70,418) of international students seeking doctoral degrees were female in 2020. Of the top 10 countries of citizenship in calendar year 2020, the average female enrollment was 44 per cent (386,851) and the average male enrollment was 56 per cent (484,103). According to SEVIS, the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019 impacted international student enrollment in the United States in 2020. The total number of SEVIS records for active F-1 and M-1 students was 1,251,569 in calendar year 2020, a decrease of 17.86 per cent from calendar year 2019, it said. The number of international students enrolled at kindergarten through grade 12 (K[1]12) schools decreased 24.6 per cent from 2019 to 2020 (-19,247). In calendar year 2020, US schools saw a 72 per cent decrease in new international student enrollment when compared to calendar year 2019. New international students include those who were not enrolled in a programme of study at a US school during the previous calendar year. US schools saw dramatic decreases in new international student enrollment in both August and September, traditionally months where the largest numbers of new international students enroll in US schools. In August 2020, there was a 91 per cent decrease in new F-1 international student enrollment and a 72 per cent decrease in new M-1 international student enrollment at US schools. In 2019, more than three K-12 schools enrolled more than 700 international students, with one school hosting more than 1,000 international students. In comparison, in 2020, only one school hosted more than 700 international students, the report said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/easemytrip-ipo-listing-price-at-13-5-premium/articleshow/81581828.cms">EaseMyTrip lists at 13.5% premium – but gives up some of the listing gains soon after</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-9-pro-specs-oneplus-9e-specs-and-price-leak-and-oneplus-9-series-launch-date/articleshow/81168227.cms">OnePlus 9 series specifications and features leaked – here's everything we know about the upcoming OnePlus smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-review-of-moto-g10-power-mobile-phone-review-and-features-information/articleshow/81583548.cms">Moto G10 Power mobile review – big battery on a shoestring budget</a>

Chinese and Indians account for 47% of international student population in US, says report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>While the US has long been a tech sector destination, the country's recent political climate has pushed noncitizen tech workers to reconsider their options — and <keyword id="6356687" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="canada">Canada</keyword> could be benefiting, <a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-markets-b140be1f-17c2-47c0-aa75-fa62b2c6f89a.html?chunk=3&amp;utm_term=emshare#story3ory3">Axios</a> reported.</li><li>Axios cited <a href="https://cset.georgetown.edu/research/canadas-immigration-system-increasingly-draws-talent-from-the-united-states/">a study</a> from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology which found that even before the pandemic, Canada's skilled <keyword id="50403" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Immigration">immigration</keyword> program has been successfully processing a high number of noncitizen American residents.</li><li>From 2017 to 2019, more than 20,000 applied for and received express entry permanent residence in Canada, and the number increased by 75% over that period, the study found. </li><li>From the Trump administration <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-ban-work-visas-h1b-immigration-restrictions-attorneys-2020-6">freezing H-1B visas</a> to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ice-may-reverse-directive-that-could-deport-international-students-2020-7">nearly barring international students</a> at colleges operating remotely, the US is at risk of intensifying this flow of residents, and pushing its top tech talent out.</li><li>Following the <keyword id="6358066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="h-1b-visa">H-1B visa</keyword> ban, the CEO of Ottawa-based Shopify <a href="https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1275406372411146245?s=20">tweeted</a>: "If this affects your plans, consider coming to Canada," suggesting that company at least is welcoming American talent. </li><li>In 2019, the US was the third most popular recipient of express entry for skilled noncitizen workers, behind India ... and Canada.</li><li>Canadian immigration numbers are likely to increase and US immigration numbers are likely to fall. <a href="https://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Immigrants-and-Americas-Comeback-From-The-Covid-19-Crisis.NFAP-Policy-Brief.July-2020.pdf">A study</a> from the National Foundation of American Policy projected that enrollment of new international students at US colleges — the exact kind of person Canada would welcome — is set to decline this fall by 63% to 98%. </li><li>Business Insider has provided a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-move-canada-2017-1">step-by-step guide</a> on moving to Canada and becoming a citizen.</li></ul>

Canada is way ahead in scooping up tech talent from the US

<ul><li>The cost for studying in the US has gone up by Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year.</li><li>Indian students abroad are also facing problems in finding accommodation. </li><li><keyword id="87" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="germany" source="Orion">Germany</keyword>, Spain, France, <keyword id="6359079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="portugal" source="Orion">Portugal</keyword> and the UAE have emerged as the preferential places to <keyword id="68134" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="study-abroad" source="Orion">study abroad</keyword>.</li></ul> Studying abroad has become costlier amid a sharp fall in rupee. The cost for studying in the US has gone up by Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year. The increase in tuition fees in the US, the UK and <keyword id="6355478" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="australia" source="Orion">Australia</keyword> by 10 to 20 per cent is another reason behind the costlier education abroad. Also, the airfares have increased in recent times, which has added burden on students studying abroad. Adding to the woes, the visas of lakhs of Indian students have not been approved in countries like the US, the UK, <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> and Australia. There are long delays in getting student visas while at the same time those students, whose visas have been approved, are facing inflation due to rupee depreciation. Indian students abroad are also facing problems in finding accommodation due to the increase in the prices of hostels and homestays. Germany seems to be reaping the benefits due to this delay in the approval of student visas by other countries. According to a recent report by the <keyword id="432632" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="german-academic-exchange-service" source="Orion">German Academic Exchange Service</keyword> (DAAD), the number of Indian students studying in Germany increased from 17,570 in 2017 to 34,134 in 2021. Actually, education is subsidised by the German government. All international students studying in state-funded universities in Germany do not have to pay tuition fees. This is one of the biggest benefits for the international students in Germany and a major relief for Indian students amid the costlier education in other popular countries. Although various courses are available at low cost to Indian students in countries like Germany, the students do not change their preferences easily. <keyword id="2733148" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sumeet-jain" source="Orion">Sumeet Jain</keyword>, co-founder, <keyword id="4136682" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="yocket" source="Orion">Yocket</keyword>, a community-based platform for overseas studies, said, "Due to the rupee depreciation, the average additional cost to study in the US has gone up by Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year. Despite this, the students do not make decisions without comprehensively evaluating various aspects. Some students, who want to pursue post research, for them there is no point in moving to other countries. While many students keep their options open. Students prefer the US for <keyword id="435553" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="stem" source="Orion">STEM</keyword> courses while for non-STEM courses they opt for the UK and Australia. Experts believe that the continued delays in visas have jeopardised the competitiveness of popular places of study. While earlier countries like the US, the UK, Australia and Canada were the first choice of the students, now Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and the UAE have emerged as the preferential places to study abroad. Significantly, the Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be a major obstacle for students who wish to pursue higher education abroad. In the US and some European countries, students are getting a waiting period of one to two years for visas. This simply means that an Indian student enrolling in a US university will be able to get a US visa after one or two years. According to industry experts, the number of Indian students moving to countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand stood at around 10 lakh in early 2022, almost double the levels before the pandemic. Similarly, the number of visa applications has increased much more than before, due to which now there is a delay in the visa approval. S. Ghosh, a student from Kolkata, said it is taking around 440 days to get a visa. SEE ALSO:

Falling rupee makes studying abroad costlier

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mass layoffs across tech showed the vulnerability of immigrant employees on work visas.</li><li>While the US still attracts talent, workers increasingly go to places like the UK or Canada.</li></ul>Varun Negandhi always intended to one day join the ranks of the US' great immigrant tech-startup founders. But seven years into his career as a software engineer in Detroit's legendary auto industry, he found out his <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/immigrant-founders-visas-venture-capital-startup-sponsorship-2022-12">work visa prevented him from starting up a company of his own</a>. And applications for permanent residency, by way of the famed "green card," were in a queue lasting as long as a decade.He started to look for a new country in which to settle his family that had friendlier visa terms — and found one very close to home."Being in Detroit and being on the border of US and Canada, I saw friends moving to Canada while working on an H-1B with their companies," he said. "Then it started to click that I can go to Canada, work with my company, but also have the freedom to start something on the side."Negandhi's story epitomizes a trend that should trouble America and its storied tech industry. Foreign-born workers are increasingly going to countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia, where they're freer to find a job or start their own company without having to deal with America's immigration system, which many consider nightmarish and outdated.As those tech workers look for greener pastures, that means <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-tech-firms-offshoring-immigration-labor-shortage-issues-remote-work-2023-3">America isn't getting the talent it desperately needs</a> to keep up with China, India, and other countries, whose own tech sectors are blossoming into formidable rivals to Silicon Valley. Without change, and fast, experts say this could mean an entire lost generation of tech talent for American tech."We have a shortage of highly skilled workers," Jason Finkelman, an immigration lawyer who specializes in work visas, said. "Therefore, the H-1B visa program and similar programs address that because you have so many US companies that are struggling to find the talent they need to remain competitive in the global marketplace." And America's loss is proving a boon for other countries, who are explicitly going after the skilled tech workers who fall through the cracks of America's immigration system."Foreign countries have figured out ways to more aggressively attack top-tier tech talent," Hiba Anver, an immigration attorney with Erickson Immigration Group, told Insider. "The US as a destination is not No. 1 by as big of a margin as it has been in past years." <h2>The US needs to move fast or risk being left behind</h2>If the US wants to remain the top destination for tech talent, the government needs to make changes to the system, or it risks falling behind, experts said.The country's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flawed-h1b-visa-system-layoffs-undermining-americas-tech-industry-2022-12">immigration system is notoriously hard to navigate</a> and has been backlogged for years. Tech companies have relied on student and work visas — including the F-1, L-1, and the limited H-1B programs — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-fees-hike-increase-silicon-valley-skilled-work-hiring-foreign-talent-2023-1">to keep recruiting top talent from around the world</a>. H-1B visas, a favorite of the tech industry, are capped at 85,000 each year. That figure <a href="https://www.cfr.org/blog/compete-china-united-states-needs-fix-immigration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hasn't changed since the 1990s</a>, even as Silicon Valley has matured into a global superpower.So applications for that visa far exceed that number, hitting over 300,000 in 2021 and 2022. Pandemic-era backlogs have also persisted, making the wait even longer. The wave of layoffs sweeping the tech sector has made that shortage an urgent problem: If someone on an H-1B visa loses their job, they have 60 days to find a new one or risk deportation.Critics also say it's too hard for international students to find a path to staying in the US after graduation, which deprives the country of the potential for them to found the next great tech company."What we've allowed is to make it impossible for international students to do something in the US," Eugene Malobrodsky, a partner at the early-stage venture-capital firm One Way Ventures, said. "So they were kicked out of the country, went back to their home, and started a company that became a unicorn. We could've had those unicorns in the US. We keep putting roadblocks in front of the best talent in the world."<h2>America's loss is other countries' gain</h2>Meanwhile, other countries are making it easier for tech workers like Negandhi and students to immigrate. Canada allows <a href="https://immigtoronto.com/canada-permanent-resident-visa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highly skilled immigrants to get permanent residency</a>, where they have the freedom to change jobs without a time limit. It also requires only a three-year permanent-residency period before you can apply for citizenship, much faster than the decade it can take in the US. The wait can be even longer for immigrants from India and China, given the limits for each country.Japan slashed <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-immigration/Japan-to-grant-residency-to-high-earning-professionals-after-1-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wait times to get permanent residency for researchers and engineers</a> to one year, Singapore introduced a <a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3190584/singapore-rolls-out-new-visa-top-global-talent-tech-sport-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visa targeted at tech workers</a>, and the UK grants graduates from top universities (many in the US) <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2022/05/31/britain-opens-up-its-visas-for-graduates-of-worlds-top-universities/?sh=3d31f79d27fc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visas regardless of nationality</a>.That makes those countries more attractive for entrepreneurs and highly skilled tech workers — and it incentivizes even American tech companies to emphasize hiring for new roles in countries with more flexible immigration policies because they can hire from around the world in those offices, Anver, one of the immigration attorneys, said.<h2>Immigrants who leave America can find a higher quality of life elsewhere</h2>Despite the pandemic, and the backlogs in the system over the past few years, applications for H-1B visas are just as high as ever, signaling that the US is still the top choice for many.At the same time, though, those who leave for countries like Canada aren't necessarily eager to return.That's the case for Aditya Joshi, who emigrated from India to the US on an L-1 visa. After two years on the job, his employer reassigned him back to India. He quickly found out that he didn't have a lot of options if he wanted to stay in the US: He couldn't switch employers under the terms of an L-1, and if his company revoked its sponsorship of his visa, it would endanger his ability to stay in the US.Knowing that the US system could be complicated, he previously applied for residency in Canada. He ultimately moved his family there in 2021, when he landed a job with Meta that allowed him to work remotely. Canada's more flexible approach allowed him to stay in the country without an expiration date, meaning more peace of mind for him and his family.In Canada, he said the cost of living was lower, the real estate was cheaper, and policy around immigrant workers was less politically charged. He has complicated feelings about moving back to the US. While Canada offers more stability, he does feel like growing in his career will be harder from outside the pull of Silicon Valley.For now, though, he's happy to stay in Canada."We can afford a bigger house over here. Things are greener and cleaner over here — those things are definitely much better in Canada," he said. "I don't have to worry about what happens tomorrow."

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