This week’s TOI Bharat Abroad looks at three very different Indian-origin stories: a US rule change that could make life harder for international students, a footballer carrying Punjabi roots onto the World Cup stage, and a Texas philanthropist who gave millions but would rather stay out of the spotlight.
THE BIG STORY
US student visa flexibility faces a major squeeze
For Indian students in the US, the next big immigration shock may not come from a headline-grabbing ban, but from a rule change buried inside Washington’s machinery. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has cleared a final Department of Homeland Security regulation that is expected to replace the current “duration of status” system for F visa students, J exchange visitors, I media visa holders and their dependents with a fixed period of stay.
That matters because, right now, international students are generally allowed to remain in the US for the duration of their programme, with compliance tracked through SEVIS. The proposed version of the rule had capped F-1 and J-1 stays at a maximum of four years, cut the post-programme grace period from 60 days to 30 days, and added extension requirements, biometrics and uncertainty into the process. It could also affect OPT work authorisation, programme changes, and the ability to move between courses. For Indians, the stakes are especially high: India is the top source country for international students in the US, with 3.6 lakh students in 2024-25, nearly 31% of all international students there.
NRI WATCH
Sarpreet Singh makes World Cup history
New Zealand’s Sarpreet Singh has become the first player of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup 2026 match. Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, the 27-year-old midfielder wore the No. 10 shirt in New Zealand’s Group G game against Iran in Los Angeles, played till the 90th minute and had three attempts on goal in a 2-2 draw. His journey has already taken him from India’s 2018 Intercontinental Cup to Bayern Munich, where he became the first player of Indian descent to appear in the Bundesliga, and now to the World Cup stage.
OFFBEAT
A $5.5 million gift, and no appetite for publicity
Indian-origin philanthropists Sunita and Brij Agarwal are uncomfortable with the attention that followed their $5.5 million donation to St Luke’s Foundation in Texas. Sunita said the couple has made several donations before, but prefers not to “advertise” them, seeing education and healthcare as the main focus of their giving. Brij Agarwal, who moved to Houston from India at 17, built VKC Group from one store into a major restaurant management and franchise business, while also supporting the University of Houston through scholarships, a $1 million donation to its Sugar Land campus, and other philanthropic work.
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Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
