Nepal, May 19 -- year-old Noah (not his real name) from Malaysia had been researching how to study marine biology in the United States: Looking into visa rules, work opportunities and internships. But in April, he gave up on his dream.

"I had my heart set on Hawaii - some people call it the Disneyland for marine scientists," he told The Straits Times.

Countries such as Australia, Britain and the US have long been popular overseas destinations for many South-east Asians. But there appears to be a growing sense of wariness among potential students and other travellers from the region about heading to the US.

Policy shifts under the Trump administration, including sharper scrutiny of international students and visa cancellations, amid an ...