Hard Truth: Is the American Dream on Pause for Incoming Nepalis to the US?

Is the American Dream on Pause for Nepalis? For many Nepali families, the American path once looked straightforward: student visa, U.S. degree, good job, H-1B, and perhaps eventually a Green Card. That path still exists, but it is becoming much less predictable. According to the latest Open Doors data, 24,890 Nepali students were studying in the United States during the 2024–25 academic year, making Nepal one of the largest sources of international students. Yet getting to America is only the beginning. Student visa applicants now face greater scrutiny, including review of social-media activity. After graduation, eligible students may work through OPT, and STEM graduates may qualify for extensions. But these are temporary options, not guaranteed paths to permanent residency. For many graduates, H-1B sponsorship becomes the next hope. But H-1B visas are limited, competition is intense, and employer sponsorship can be uncertain. That creates a difficult question for Nepali families spending tens of thousands of dollars on an American education. A student can spend four years earning a degree, build a career, find an employer—and still have no certainty about being able to remain in the United States long term. This does not mean the American Dream is dead. America still offers world-class education, strong career opportunities, and valuable international experience. But the old expectation that studying in America naturally leads to working and settling there is becoming harder to rely on. So perhaps the real question is: Are Nepali families investing in education—or gambling their savings on an immigration future nobody can predict? For students planning to come to America today, the most important question may no longer be: “Can I get into a U.S. university?” It may be: “What is my plan if I cannot stay after graduation?”