Sabbir (pseudonym), aged 25, is a student from Moulvibazar district who is currently residing in Sylhet city for higher education. During his time in Sylhet, he observed that, like many other students in the region, he has developed a strong interest in pursuing education abroad. From his perspective, the competition for government jobs in Bangladesh is highly time-consuming and uncertain; in contrast, studying abroad appears to be a more practical and promising pathway. Sabbir’s interest has been shaped significantly by both familial and social influences. Many of his relatives live abroad and enjoy comparatively secure and financially stable lives, which has deeply inspired him. In particular, the high social status and acceptance of expatriates in the Sylhet region further reinforce the tendency among young people to pursue migration. However, while making his decision, Sabbir encountered several concerns. Although most students in Sylhet plan to study abroad through self-funding, the increasing rate of visa rejections and the complexities surrounding financial solvency requirements have made him cautious. Additionally, reports of fraud by fake agencies have heightened his sense of risk. As a result, the lack of reliable and accurate information initially made his decision-making process more difficult. Despite the long-standing trend of studying in the United Kingdom among Sylheti students, Sabbir’s preferred destination was the United States. According to him, the English-speaking environment, broader employment opportunities due to the country’s size, and the presence of close relatives who could provide initial support made the United States an attractive option. He believes that by studying abroad, he will be able to become a strong financial contributor to his family and support the country through remittances. At the same time, Sabbir expresses a critical perspective shaped by his social context. He states, “In a small country like Bangladesh, there are too many people, and many students in Sylhet are not sufficiently skilled to achieve significant success if they remain here. At least by going abroad, they are trying to improve themselves and support their families.” This statement reflects both his personal perception and the broader social narrative surrounding migration. A significant shift in his perspective occurred after participating in a community dialogue and myth-busting session under the project “Community-Based Awareness and Engagement for Safe, Legal and Informed Youth Migration.” Through this session, he learned that international students in the United States are allowed to work on-campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week, which is not sufficient to fully cover tuition fees and living expenses—something he was previously unaware of. This new understanding led him to reconsider his plans. He realized that relying solely on self-funding could be risky, and therefore began to focus more on securing scholarships or funded opportunities. Furthermore, through the project’s education fair, he learned about trusted and verified agencies and consultancy firms—an entirely new concept for him. He actively engaged by asking questions and gathering information, making his decision-making process more informed and evidence-based. Sabbir’s experience reflects a realistic picture of student migration practices in the Sylhet region, where social influence, information gaps, perceived risks, and awareness all interact in shaping decisions. This case study highlights that access to accurate information and awareness initiatives can play a crucial role in helping students make safer, more informed, and less risky migration decisions.