The US embassy warns that breaking the law can cost you student visas

• The US embassy warns that arrests may result in student visas being revoked.
• The embassy cites the risk of deportation and the future inability to issue a visa.
• “A US visa is a privilege, not a right,” says the embassy.

The US embassy in India warned on Thursday that arrests or violations of US law could lead to revocation of student visas, deportation and future ineligibility for US visas.

In a post on X, the @USAndIndia embassy account said: “Breaching US law can have serious consequences for your student visa.”

“If you are arrested or violate any law, your visa may be revoked, you may be deported and you may not be eligible for future US visas. Follow the rules and do not jeopardize your trip. A US visa is a privilege, not a right,” he added.

The warning follows other recent messages from the US embassy in New Delhi about visa compliance.

In December, the embassy said it would deny tourist visa applications if consular officials believe the trip is primarily to give birth in the United States to secure U.S. citizenship for a child.

“This is not allowed,” the embassy said in a post on X.

Gulf News reported that the move added uncertainty for visa holders in India, including professionals who account for over 70% of H-1B approvals and nearly 90% of H-4 work permit visas.

The US Embassy in India has also rescheduled visa interviews for some applicants, issuing new appointment dates extending through mid-2026.

Separately, the Trump administration in September proposed changes to rework the H-1B visa selection process to favor higher-skilled, better-paid workers, a Federal Register release said.

The proposal followed a White House proclamation that introduced a $100,000 visa fee.

If annual requests exceed the statutory limit of 85,000, the announcement said, more weight will be given to requests from employers who pay high wages, with the stated goal of protecting Americans from unfair wage competition from foreign workers.

President Trump, a Republican, tried to reshape the H-1B process during his 2017-2021 presidency, but was blocked by federal courts and limited time at the end of his presidency.

US tightening immigration policies are also fueling broader concerns in India.

Matchmakers, academics and prospective brides and grooms say families are less willing to marry their children to US-based Indian citizens, citing fears that potential partners could lose their jobs or immigration status. There is no official government data on marriages between Indian citizens living at home and abroad.

Indian government figures put the US Indian diaspora at about 2.1 million non-resident Indians (NRIs). Since returning to office in January, Trump has launched a broad crackdown on immigration, including efforts to limit legal avenues for residency.

Indians accounted for 71% of H-1B visas last year, while US Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows that about 75% of H-1B visas issued to Indian citizens in 2024 went to men.

For students, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement figures show there were 422,335 Indian students in the US in 2024, with uncertainty over visa policy prompting many to rethink the ‘American Dream’.