As confusion around Donald Trump’s new H-1B proclamation begins to settle, experts are advising Indian students and professionals abroad to hold tight until all facts are clear. “H-1B visas are allotted annually, with the next lottery expected only after February next year, when about 85,000 visas are issued. Of these, around 20,000 are reserved for students with master’s degrees from US universities,” explained Dr Karan Gupta, career consultant.

He added that Indian students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) already benefit from a three-year Optional Practical Training (OPT) period, while business and humanities majors get one year. OPT allows graduates to gain work experience in their field.