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Book details scary' life in US

Rajesh Kuppa, who hails from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, moved to Washinton DC in 1995 for higher studies at his parents' consent.

Hyderabad: 47-year-old US returnee Rajesh Vishwa who shared his bitter experiences in his book, ‘The Dark Side of the H1B Visa’, officially launched it on Thursday in Hyderabad.

Rajesh Kuppa, who hails from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, moved to Washinton DC in 1995 for higher studies at his parents’ consent. He says he has written this book to enlighten all prospective students and future H1B Visa applicants to make them aware of the hurdles which await them in their dream land, the United States of America.

In his book he says, “The problem is that many students and parents in India have a wrong perception that they have reached the land of opportunities once they move to the US. The bitter truth is that there will be a lot of hurdles, including reckless behavior of placement companies.’’

He continued, “Students tend to take high loans which exceed their parents’ income and many get stuck in a debt trap loop and are scared to return to India, even if they are not able to work on their H1B visa after completing their studies and utilising their Optional Practical Train-ing (OPT) and face unnecessary hurdles.’’

Earlier students on a student visa were allowed to work 20 hours a day in their campus itself, but previously immigration was not focused on students who worked illegally and they would be let off with a warning. Now things have changed.

According to his book, another major problem in the US is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) which is a major part of every student visa. Every semester it reports about students. This system was not present earlier. It is a nationwide, Internet-based system that the U.S.

Government uses to maintain accurate and current info-rmation on non-imm-igrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2).

Racism was always there and exists everywhere in US; there were many instances where Rajesh and his wife faced racism. A black colleague of Rajesh had always advised him not to go to racist places. “It’s better to listen to colleagues who are white, when they say not to go to some place, better to avoid such places, especially when you’re alone,” he suggests.

Rajesh, while sharing incidents about his white neigbours, said, “One person we spoke to in our apartment building was offended when we spoke to him. The white old folks said, we don’t like to speak with you, why are you even speaking to us?’’

He adds, “We always visited a bar with a local person because they told me when you speak English they think you are from here. Once everyone was watching a match in an apartment and more than 30 Indians were watching and shouting in the early morning hours. It was reported to the police’’.

Rajesh says that, “The hardships faced by Indian students and H1B visa holders create a ripple effect as they tend to keep those problems to themselves. The methods followed by an individual would shock everyone. I have gone through this and have explained in detail in my book, so that they make the right choice, additionally going to schools and Universities which have no credentials would create an additional burden for the students’’.

Rajesh said, “India is always the best option to live happily and to study whatever we want, and there are best of colleges and courses here. The process of getting a job is tedious in US when compared to India. That is why I believe that students should make correct choices and only those who can afford the education cost in US and don’t mind even if they return to India rather falling into a trap should take this step and move to US, but this does not lead anywhere except becoming illegal’’.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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