A Reddit post by an Indian doctor has triggered widespread discussion on the changing global landscape for migration, particularly for Indians seeking opportunities abroad. The post, titled “The world doesn’t want us anymore,” reflects growing concern among professionals about restrictive immigration policies and a sense of rejection in host countries.
The post appeared on the subreddit r/immigration earlier this month and quickly gained traction. The author, identifying as a doctor, wrote about how it is becoming increasingly difficult for Indians to secure visas, permanent residency, or acceptance in several countries. The post expressed frustration that even highly skilled professionals, including doctors, now face greater barriers compared to earlier decades.
The post struck a chord with many users who shared similar experiences of stricter border controls, limited visa approvals, and rising anti-immigrant sentiment in countries once considered favorable destinations for Indian workers.
It was also noted that the discussion expanded beyond the doctor’s personal frustration, with users pointing to broader issues such as increasing xenophobia, geopolitical tensions, and overburdened immigration systems.
Several commentators referred to the end of what some described as the “golden age of global migration.” According to a report in Business Today, many believe that opportunities to settle abroad permanently are narrowing due to host countries tightening rules on student visas, work permits, and residency applications.
Immigration data from VisaVerge reflects these restrictions. UK Home Office figures show that student visas issued to Indian nationals fell by 11% in the year ending June 2025, with a total of 98,014 visas granted. During the same period, immigration-related detentions of Indian nationals almost doubled, rising by 108% to 2,715 cases. [1]
Many Indians still aspire to migrate, driven by concerns such as pollution, overburdened infrastructure, job market uncertainties, and limited work-life balance at home. On the other hand, host countries attract migrants with cleaner environments, better healthcare, stronger governance, and improved personal safety.
One Reddit user summarized the sentiment by writing that Indians go abroad “for the most basic things: good food, clean air, clean water, civic sense, [and] work-life balance”.
Some international users questioned whether large-scale migration from India is sustainable. A commenter from Germany wrote that Western nations cannot “absorb hundreds of millions of Indians,” and suggested that focus should shift toward improving conditions within India itself.
At the same time, geopolitical shifts may open other avenues. While many Western countries impose stricter immigration controls, Russia recently announced plans to hire more Indian workers in sectors facing domestic shortages according to an NDTV report.
India currently has the world’s largest diaspora population. United Nations data shows that as of 2020, around 18 million persons born in India were living abroad, accounting for the largest migrant population globally. More recent estimates suggest this number has grown to 18.5 million by 2024, representing about 6 percent of all international migrants. [2]
When including people of Indian origin (PIOs), the global Indian community is estimated to exceed 35 million, spread across regions such as the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom according to TOI.
References:
1. Suresh, Nileena. “International Migration from India.” Data for India, February 7, 2025 (updated July 30, 2025). Accessed August 28, 2025.
https://www.dataforindia.com/international-migration/
2. VisaVerge. “UK Student Visas for Indians Fall as Detentions Nearly Double.” VisaVerge, August 2025. Accessed August 28, 2025.
https://www.visaverge.com/f1visa/uk-student-visas-for-indians-fall-as-detentions-nearly-double/
(Rh/Eth/MSM)