The USA is a major education destination for Indian students, with International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) students viewing it as their primary choice for undergraduate studies. It is one of the most sought-after countries for higher education due to the quality of the education it provides and the perceived job opportunities after the completion of a degree. While visa regulations and chances of landing a job are changing regularly under the Donald Trump administration, education quality remains consistent and constantly innovative.
Current regulations give students a one-year stay-back option called OPT (optional practical training), which allows students to work for a year after graduation in a field related to their degree. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students are eligible for two extra years of OPT for which they have to apply after the one-year OPT. There is also the option of CPT—curricular practical training—for certain courses, usually for postgraduate students, allowing them to work in a field related to their degree while they study, normally after their second semester.