Pressing issues faced by Indian students and immigrants—ranging from visa backlogs and restrictive reforms to evolving international student work policies in the USA, Canada and UK were highlighted at a new webinar.
Titled “Indian Diaspora and Immigration Upheavals – Path Forward,” the inaugural webinar in the new international webinar series hosted by the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) was held on July 12, according to a media release.
Moderated by Dr. Maya Chadda, Professor Emeritus at William Paterson University and a permanent member of the Council of Foreign Relations, the event gathered leading immigration attorneys, policymakers, and community thought leaders.
GOPIO’s Founder and Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, framed the initiative with a clear message, “Our goal is to create a global platform that not only informs but equips the Indian diaspora to navigate complex immigration landscapes with clarity and purpose.”
READ: New GOPIO International team led by Prakash Shah sworn in (February 6, 2025)
GOPIO President Prakash Shah, emphasizing the series’ vital role in responding to community needs said, “We are committed to amplifying the concerns of our communities across borders and shaping a proactive response to immigration challenges with expert insights and collaborative solutions. In addition, we want to galvanize the Indian diaspora for a greater contribution to reshape the future of global migration.”
Chief guest Lord Bhikhu C. Parekh, member of the UK House of Lords, opened the webinar with remarks reflecting on the diaspora’s historical resilience despite the many challenges faced in the early years and more recent times.
“Migration out of India had been quite common, in pre-Aristotelian times in 3rd and 4th Century BC, people usually moved from Gujarat to various parts of Greece, Rome and South-East Asia,” he said. “Then it remained static and picked up again, when slavery was abolished and it was replaced by indentured laborers scattered across 42 countries.”
David Nachman, New Jersey-based immigration attorney and founder of NPZ Law Group, highlighted enforcement priorities under the Big Beautiful Bill and shared the immigration matters under various categories to be considered by the present and future diaspora members planning an immigration to the U.S. not only from India but also from Australia, UK, Europe to rejoin their extended families
Stephanie Dy, Chicago based Parikh Law Group Immigration attorney specializing in high-skilled visas, explained stricter H-1B and L-1 vetting protocols covering the effect of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies on the visa categories used by the diaspora, specifically the student and employment visas.
READ: US immigration crackdown leads to sharp decline in Indian student visas (July 9, 2025)
She highlighted that any change in immigration policy is seismic and significant and impacts the diaspora especially as during 2024 the U.S. India Mission broke records for second year in a row with record over one million non-immigrant visas issued.
Shaima Ammal, London based Solicitor and Advocate, shared post-pandemic reforms reducing low-skilled migration from India and recent changes in the policies has led to primary focus on border security and stopping illegal immigration. The focus has shifted towards allowing and encouraging those that can contribute to the economy.
Dr. Sudhir Shah, Mumbai-based immigration specialist provided insights into EB-5, L-1, and family-based visa options for Indian nationals. He focused on the current visa requirements and encouraged those applying for visas, to do it with honesty and due preparation.
Gaganjot Kaur, Toronto-based immigration expert, discussed ripple effects of U.S. border security measures on Canadian student policy. She shared the policies have led to focus on international students that includes additional vetting, financial stability, and introduction of a 5% cap. She added that the investor visa option is still open in Canada.