Indian students in US at risk of deportation over not declaring job status

Hyderabad: Several Indian students in the US were served notices to prove their employment status, but many have reportedly refrained from responding due to fear of deportation. These students admitted they were not currently engaged in any authorised employment, making them vulnerable to removal from the country.

The notices, issued by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), require students to respond within strict timelines—typically 15 days—or risk immediate termination of their visa status. However, many students decided against responding.

The trigger was the failure to report employment under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT programme, or exceeding the allowed unemployment window. Students on F-1 visas are permitted a total of 90 days of unemployment during regular OPT, and an additional 60 days for those under STEM extensions. Breaching this limit, or failing to update employment details in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), is considered a violation of visa rules.

“They asked me to submit a letter from my employer, proof of payroll, and an updated I-983 form within 15 days,” said a 26-year-old tech graduate, currently based in Texas. “I panicked—I don’t have a job. I’ve applied everywhere, but I haven’t heard back. Now I don’t know what to do.”

Those who fail to comply may have their SEVIS records terminated, which would mean immediate loss of legal status and the initiation of deportation proceedings. For many students, the threat of removal is not just about immigration—it’s financial survival. The average Indian student graduating from a US institution carries an education loan burden ranging between Rs 25 to Rs 45 lakhs. With no job, no way to repay, and no visa security, the crisis is pushing some to remain in the country unlawfully.

“I don’t want to become illegal, but going back means financial ruin,” said a graduate in data analytics from Atlanta. “My father took out a loan against our house. If I leave now, we’re done. How?”

Some have refrained from responding to ICE altogether, fearing their confession of unemployment could speed up removal. “It’s a trap either way,” said a computer science student from Chicago. “If I say I’m unemployed, they might deport me. If I stay silent, they’ll still come after me. But at least I’ll have time to figure something out.”

Immigration consultants are advising affected students to warn that silence may worsen their case. “Not responding can be interpreted as an admission of guilt or non-compliance,” said Ravi Lothumalla, an immigration consultant based in Dallas. “The right way is to respond honestly and seek reinstatement if possible, but many students don’t even know they have that option.”