Students
International student visa news covering F-1 regulations, SEVIS requirements, university enrollment policies, and post-graduation work options. Includes OPT, CPT, and STEM extension updates.
Top questions about Students
Answers from VisaVerge guidesHow should international students plan for potential shifts in immigration status?
Students should have a plan for two paths: stay in the United States or leave quickly to preserve option value and minimize irreversible commitments.
Read: How Fixed Immigration Periods Shape International Students' Investment FlexibilityHow has visa issuance for international students changed in early 2025?
Visa issuance for students fell more than 30% in early 2025 as enforcement and scrutiny increased.
Read: Hardening U.S. Social Climate Forces International Students to Reconsider U.S. UniversitiesWhat options are available to international students facing these visa changes?
International students can either withdraw their offers and receive a refund or defer their offers.
Read: Why Australian Universities Urgently Tell International Students to Back Out Now!What are some challenges faced by Indian and Chinese students applying for F-1 visas as of early 2025?
Both countries face appointment backlogs, interview freezes, and extra vetting procedures, leading to delays and increased risks in visa approvals as of early 2025.
Read: China and India Account for 60% of U.S. F-1 Visa Decline in 2025What potential changes could impact student visas for Indian immigrants under Project 2025?
Project 2025 proposes restrictions on student visas, which could disrupt the pathway to permanent residency for many skilled Indian students at U.S. universities.
Read: Trump Administration's Plans May Deepen Green Card Waits for Indians
Is SEVP Back to Normal Operations After the Shutdown?
Because SEVP is fee-funded, it stayed operational through the shutdown. Schools and AILA reported uninterrupted SEVIS access, continued issuance of I-20s and DS-2019s, and normal DSO services. As of November…
What International Students Should Do If OPT Is Delayed by a Shutdown
Shutdown-related slowdowns are delaying physical EAD and SSN cards after online OPT approvals, pushing back F‑1 students’ start…
How the 2025 Government Shutdown Impacts F-1 Visa, OPT, and CPT
Fee-funded USCIS, consular operations, and SEVIS will keep processing F-1 visas, OPT, and CPT during the 2025 shutdown,…
International Student Enrollment Slows at Georgia Universities in 2025
Georgia’s international enrollment rose only 1.1% in fall 2025 (295 students), while U.S. colleges expect a 30–40% national…
Harvard AAUP Seeks Nationwide Free Speech for International Students
A federal judge ruled that lawfully present noncitizens receive full First Amendment protections. The 161-page nationwide decision, prompted…
International Student Markets and the Threat to Academic Freedom
Heavy reliance on international tuition and stricter visa scrutiny are constraining academic freedom. Financial incentives push universities toward…
Canada’s 2025 Budget: How Tighter Rules Are Affecting Indian Students
Stricter screening and federal caps tied to Canada’s 2025 budget have driven Indian study-permit refusals to 74% and…
New International Bachelor’s Enrollments Drop 5% in the Netherlands
(NETHERLANDS) The Netherlands is seeing an abrupt cooling in new arrivals of international students for the 2024–25 academic…
MATES Work Visa Lottery: Last Registration Date for Indian Students
The MATES ballot runs November 1–December 14, 2025; up to 3,000 Indian graduates (18–30) from NIRF top 100…
Filing U.S. Taxes for NRIs and International Students: A Guide
International students (F-1, J-1, M-1) must file Form 8843 annually; those with U.S. income file Form 1040-NR. State…