By: Eliana Morales
As the semester begins, colleges across the United States are experiencing a drop in international students, as reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press last week. Although Southern Adventist University also expected a significant drop in incoming international freshmen, last year’s record-high international enrollment and strong retention rates have placed Southern in a position where changes are not as impactful, according to Ryan Harrell, web and analytics manager. Amid changing visa policies, here are five things international students need to know:
Trump Administration proposes a 4-year limit
On Aug. 28, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposal that would set clear time limits on visas for international students. Since 1979, students on F-1 visas have been allowed to stay in the U.S. under “duration of status,” meaning they could remain in the country as long as they stayed enrolled in school without regular re-evaluation. The DHS proposed eliminating that system, as they believe some international students have used the open-ended system to stay in the U.S. for extended periods by continuously enrolling in programs.
Under the new proposal, students and exchange visitors would be allowed to stay only for the length of their academic program, with a maximum of four years. Students in language training programs would have a 24-month limit. An undergrad student wanting to pursue graduate school would need to reapply for a visa instead of obtaining a new Form I-20 from their school. Anyone needing to stay beyond these limits would have to request an extension through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This rule is a revival of a measure first proposed in 2020, which was later withdrawn in 2021. It is not yet in effect and is open for public comment until late September.
Grace Du Bois, Southern’s international student services coordinator, stated another way the proposed rule could affect students if implemented.
“There’s a chance that they will not be able to easily extend their I-20,” she said. If a student needed an extension to their program, they would need to go through a more formal application process with the government rather than simply submitting a letter from their program advisor.
Restrictions on changing programs
The proposal also states that F-1 visa holders must wait a whole academic school year before changing programs or transferring out of the school that issued their Form I-20 or successor form. Additionally, graduate-level students would not be allowed to change programs at all.
Tighter exit deadlines
Currently, F-1 visa holders are given a grace period of 60 days to remain in the country after graduation to prepare for departure. If the proposal is implemented, students would be given only 30 days.
Options after graduation
Those wanting to work in the U.S. after graduation can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the United States for up to one year in a job directly related to their field of study. Students can apply for post-grad OPT as early as 90 days before their degree completion. The first step for application requires the student’s designated school official to recommend OPT.
There is an extension available for certain STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors. If eligible, these students can extend their OPT by 24 months, giving them a total of up to three years of work authorization.
After the OPT period ends, graduates who want to remain in the U.S. typically need to switch to a different visa, such as an H-1B, to continue working.
Du Bois encourages international students who wish to continue working in the U.S. to foster relationships with potential employers far ahead of graduation.
“Especially with these potential policy changes, there’s going to be a lot of hesitancy from employers to even work with F-1 students, so establish those relationships far ahead of time,” she said.
Proposed rule places recent grads at a disadvantage
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of extending up to six years. These jobs require highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a specific field, such as engineering, computer science, medicine or business. Traditionally, international students who graduate on F-1 visas often rely on H-1B sponsorship to stay and work in the U.S., entering a lottery system due to high demand and limited annual visas.
On July 17, the DHS proposed to end the random lottery and instead prioritize applicants based on the wages offered by their employers. Higher-paying positions would have a better chance of approval, while lower-paid jobs and recent graduates may face increased competition. On Aug. 8, the Office of Management and Budget cleared the rule for publication in the Federal Register. Once the rule is published, the public will be able to comment for 60 days before a final rule is drafted.
Student voices
Will rapidly changing policies make the U.S. less attractive to international students? Abdiel Vargas, a junior social work major, believes so.
“[The U.S.] would probably be less appealing,” he said. “If [international students] think that it’s going to be so complicated coming here, they might choose other places where it would be less difficult for them.” Vargas has been studying in the U.S. since 2022, his senior year of high school.
Sharna Ebanks is a senior mass communication advertising major and an international student from Roatán, Honduras. She believes a person’s values play a large part in how attractive the U.S. would remain. She began studying in the U.S. four years ago from Roatán, Honduras.
“Personally, I came up here to Southern because it’s an Adventist university and it’s English-speaking,” she said. “[The new policies] wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for me because I want to be at this school. I don’t have universities back home that are English.” Ebanks thinks that for others who aren’t necessarily looking for Adventist education but are seeking prestigious universities such as Harvard, changing policies might not cause the U.S. to lose its appeal.
Students also shared some of the challenges they face as international students in America.
“It’s hard that you can’t work off campus because on-campus jobs pay too little. And there’s a limit you cannot go over,” said Daniel Zhao, junior nursing major. He studied in the U.S. throughout high school and is now in his third year at Southern.
“They keep changing their laws and stuff, and keep targeting foreigners in many laws, so I definitely get stressed sometimes,” Vargas said. He hopes to obtain a student visa by next semester and is currently in the U.S. through his parents’ religious worker status.
Leaving home was an adjustment for many, including Alina Akopian, sophomore business administration major.
“It takes time for you to get used to a completely different culture, especially when you didn’t come with your family or know anyone,” she said. Akopian expressed that she has adjusted to the U.S. culture, equipped with new knowledge and friends who are like her “second family.”
The future weighs on these students’ minds. Zhao had not previously heard of OPT but is now considering it as a path forward.
“I need OPT,” he said. “I think with the new policy it might be pretty challenging.”
Ebanks also hopes to work in the U.S. after graduation but believes it is not her decision alone.
“I’m leaving it up to God for sure, because He’s the one who brought me up here,” she said. “With this whole thing going down, it’s kind of dependent on Him, whether He wants to keep me up here or if I should go back home.”
Advice for international students
Take full advantage of being at a school where you can work in the university and learn and grow professionally. – Ebanks
Be careful what you post on social media! – Vargas
Just don’t work over 20 hours. Don’t get a ticket, get pulled over or work off campus. – Zhao
Make sure to report all information changes to Southern, including a dorm room switch. – Du Bois
Remember that you are here for a purpose. If you know Him, trust Him with the process. – Akopian
