New Admin r2i rate

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New Admin r2i rate

Post by keenness8 »

How much will the new admin and uncertainty with the future of folks on visa increase the r2i rates? Personally I'm feeling motivated to get out of the vicious cycles and not have my future depends on an individual.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by JINSAKAI »

There's definitely fear among Indian communities, one of my friend in NJ was told by his manager to avoid travel out side US, just in case the if reentry gets denied (I am not sure the fear is justified though). I think it will make life more difficult for Indian students though :( ...
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by keenness8 »

JINSAKAI wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:37 am There's definitely fear among Indian communities, one of my friend in NJ was told by his manager to avoid travel out side US, just in case the if reentry gets denied (I am not sure the fear is justified though). I think it will make life more difficult for Indian students though :( ...
Yeah I feel for the folks currently in India who had dropbox scheduled and now have to play wack a mole to get in person appointments.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by SAPPORO »

Although, I am not on a visa, I meet dozens of desis on visas daily on my evening walks. The question everyone has is why on earth would I travel abroad now obviously not knowing my visa status. So, most are not planning to travel abroad - big loss to the level of bankruptcy for the middle-eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, Etihad etc.. if this pov persists. Not looking good for American tourism.

The POE denials would be very minimal compared to Trump 1.0 since psychologically speaking, the officers would be now less willing heed to the diktats of the Musk govt that's breathing down their neck. There may be issues in securing new visa stamps in India.

To answer your question, R2I rate won't go up, SIA (Stay In America or Status-quo in America) would go up but C2A (Coming 2 America) rates would obviously go down. So fresh arrivals would dwindle whereas those who are already here would cling on to the status quo.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by nodegree »

SAPPORO wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:01 am To answer your question, R2I rate won't go up, SIA (Stay In America or Status-quo in America) would go up but C2A (Coming 2 America) rates would obviously go down. So fresh arrivals would dwindle whereas those who are already here would cling on to the status quo.
Are you sure the C2A would go down? I had to go the embassy last month (a humongous brand new building in Hyderabad) and the lines were just ridiculously long even with 50 counters of Visa Officers doing the interviews/stamping.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by Returning_Indian »

R2i will increase but not because of scare tactics. It's about the economy and layoffs. People will try everything possible to stay as long as they can but economy is in really bad shape for educated folks. In my industry it's worst than in last 50yrs. It's taking talented Americans more than a year to find jobs. Senior level people are choosing to retire. It's a mayhem. While jobs are getting outsourced to India and Mexico on large scale.

Things are definitely getting harder for people on visa but it's easier to manage these harships than it is to uproot and start new life in India.

There is no dearth of students coming to US for study from India. IT may see some dip as opportunities are going down even on OPT. Only thing that's going down is quality of people and students coming to US. But that has nothing to do with Trump. India's own economy and startup ecosystem is quite vibrant and funding from VCs is available. So talented people are choosing to stay back.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by SAPPORO »

nodegree wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:41 am
SAPPORO wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:01 am To answer your question, R2I rate won't go up, SIA (Stay In America or Status-quo in America) would go up but C2A (Coming 2 America) rates would obviously go down. So fresh arrivals would dwindle whereas those who are already here would cling on to the status quo.
Are you sure the C2A would go down? I had to go the embassy last month (a humongous brand new building in Hyderabad) and the lines were just ridiculously long even with 50 counters of Visa Officers doing the interviews/stamping.
Probably those waiting were the last batch of the baby-sitters for the birth-right citizenship parents :) I cannot believe anyone working in Indian IT in their right frame of mind would want to move to America at this time.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by r2somewhere »

nodegree wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:41 am
SAPPORO wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:01 am To answer your question, R2I rate won't go up, SIA (Stay In America or Status-quo in America) would go up but C2A (Coming 2 America) rates would obviously go down. So fresh arrivals would dwindle whereas those who are already here would cling on to the status quo.
Are you sure the C2A would go down? I had to go the embassy last month (a humongous brand new building in Hyderabad) and the lines were just ridiculously long even with 50 counters of Visa Officers doing the interviews/stamping.
C2A will only go down if US reduces intake. India has limitless supply. If US makes the process more inhumane and insulting, it wont reduce the number of Indians applying, it will only mean that more desperate ones will apply. Even if US officially declares things like - no green card ever, passport confiscation on arrival and visa workers must wear ankle monitors at all times, they will still get millions of Indians willing to come.
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by r2somewhere »

SAPPORO wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:49 am
nodegree wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:41 am
SAPPORO wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:01 am To answer your question, R2I rate won't go up, SIA (Stay In America or Status-quo in America) would go up but C2A (Coming 2 America) rates would obviously go down. So fresh arrivals would dwindle whereas those who are already here would cling on to the status quo.
Are you sure the C2A would go down? I had to go the embassy last month (a humongous brand new building in Hyderabad) and the lines were just ridiculously long even with 50 counters of Visa Officers doing the interviews/stamping.
Probably those waiting were the last batch of the baby-sitters for the birth-right citizenship parents :) I cannot believe anyone working in Indian IT in their right frame of mind would want to move to America at this time.
Anecdotally, visas like O1 and EB1 have become easier (and no change from Trump yet). People are preparing for it like they would for a GRE or entrance exam and getting these in a year or two. Now is an excellent time for talented people to come in this way. Especially considering the much lower quality coming in through F1 and H1
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Re: New Admin r2i rate

Post by SAPPORO »

r2somewhere wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:52 am
nodegree wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:41 am
SAPPORO wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:01 am To answer your question, R2I rate won't go up, SIA (Stay In America or Status-quo in America) would go up but C2A (Coming 2 America) rates would obviously go down. So fresh arrivals would dwindle whereas those who are already here would cling on to the status quo.
Are you sure the C2A would go down? I had to go the embassy last month (a humongous brand new building in Hyderabad) and the lines were just ridiculously long even with 50 counters of Visa Officers doing the interviews/stamping.
C2A will only go down if US reduces intake. India has limitless supply. If US makes the process more inhumane and insulting, it wont reduce the number of Indians applying, it will only mean that more desperate ones will apply. Even if US officially declares things like - no green card ever, passport confiscation on arrival and visa workers must wear ankle monitors at all times, they will still get millions of Indians willing to come.
US will reduce intake and increase visa denials. Yes, it would increase the number of "nothing to lose" candidates but they would mainly contribute to the increase in denials. "Everything to lose" IT folks like my relatives who work from home for MNCs, have household help and live close to both sets of parents, would not even think about moving to the US.


If you have already lived here in the US, then it's a different story. Those that are already here would cling on to it as long as possible. Some of my neighbors converted to a visitor visa upon job loss on H1B and got a new H1B with another employer- I did not even know if that's even possible, but Indian ingenuity at play here, I guess!
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