Tightening U.S. Visa Rules and Slashing of Corporate Sponsorship Hits Indian Students Hard

The survey, conducted by the Financial Express, found that major employers, including retail giant Walmart, have sharply reduced or paused office role offerings for candidates who require H-1B visa sponsorship.

Indian students, who form the largest group of international business school applicants in the U.S., are feeling the squeeze as they compete for fewer sponsorship-backed jobs.

The drop from 55% to 29% in just two years reflects a broader tightening of corporate hiring practices amid stricter visa rules and economic uncertainty.

Career counselors at U.S. business schools report that students are increasingly pivoting to startups or returning to India, as traditional corporate pathways shrink.