Rajesh Sawhney’s Warning on International Education
Rajesh Sawhney has issued a stark warning to Indian parents. The experienced angel investor and founder of the startup accelerator GSF has challenged a common belief: that obtaining a master’s degree in the US guarantees a prosperous tech career. He stated, “This hack works no more,” calling attention to a prevalent path often chosen by IIT graduates—pursuing a Master’s in the US to secure a $200,000 job. According to him, this shortcut has collapsed.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Sawhney expressed, “There are no jobs in USA, Canada and UK for International students. The honeymoon is over; parents should reconsider before investing millions in costly education. Engineering students, particularly those from IIT, previously had a straightforward method: obtaining a master’s degree in the US to land a $200K tech job. This strategy is no longer effective.”
His statements arrive at a time when the US government is tightening immigration policies, especially those concerning H-1B and student visas. This shift is creating significant impact across India’s educational and technology sectors.
The H-1B visa, critical for many Indian tech professionals, is now facing increased scrutiny. In 2025, registrations fell to approximately 344,000—the lowest in four years. Stricter selection criteria and a crackdown on fraudulent practices have led to higher documentation demands, extended waiting periods, and rising costs.
Simultaneously, Indian students—who constitute around 30% of international admissions in the US—are encountering new challenges. F-1 visa interview appointments in major cities like Hyderabad are delayed by several months. Proposals to curtail the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program are also threatening the limited job prospects that currently exist after graduation.
When viewed together, these factors indicate a significant transformation. For numerous Indian families considering the expense of an overseas degree, Sawhney’s cautionary remarks serve as a critical alert: the previous strategies may no longer be effective.