Beneath the brand new coverage, F-1 college students and J-1 change guests shall be admitted for a set interval as an alternative of being allowed to stay within the US at some point of their tutorial programme.
The US authorities’s newest modifications to scholar visa guidelines are set to extend each the monetary burden and administrative hurdles for worldwide college students, together with these from India, whereas additionally requiring them to safe jobs and employer sponsorship a lot sooner than earlier than, Danielle Goldman, Co-founder and CEO of Construct Expertise Labs, stated in an unique interview with ANI.
The US Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) not too long ago printed a rule ending the long-standing “period of standing” framework for F, J and I visa holders. Beneath the brand new coverage, F-1 college students and J-1 change guests shall be admitted for a set interval as an alternative of being allowed to stay within the US at some point of their tutorial programme.
College students requiring further time will now have to use on to the US Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) for an extension.
The rule additionally reduces the grace interval after Non-obligatory Sensible Coaching (OPT) from 60 days to 30 days and restricts using Day 1 Curricular Sensible Coaching (CPT) for college kids pursuing a second diploma on the similar tutorial degree.
Chatting with ANI, Goldman stated the modifications would considerably improve prices for worldwide college students.
“That is forcing worldwide college students to pay an additional USD 300 to USD 500 in submitting charges, plus one other USD 1,900 in premium processing if they need a response prior to 5 months. So that is creating extra monetary stress for college kids and admittedly, the US authorities saying, we consider there’s cash to be made right here and we’re going to implement this,” she stated.
In accordance with Goldman, the brand new system means college students can not depend on universities to course of extensions by the SEVIS system and should as an alternative navigate a lengthier USCIS approval course of, requiring them to plan their careers a lot earlier.
She stated college students, notably these concentrating on careers in expertise and synthetic intelligence, would wish to safe job affords and employer sponsorship months earlier than commencement to keep away from falling out of standing underneath the shorter grace interval.
Goldman additionally stated the restrictions on Day 1 CPT programmes would take away a generally used backup choice for a lot of worldwide graduates who fail to safe an H-1B visa by the annual lottery, making it harder for corporations to retain international expertise.
College students urged to organize a number of immigration pathways
Calling the transfer a “cash seize”, Goldman stated the brand new course of creates further monetary stress on worldwide college students by shifting visa extension approvals from academic establishments to the federal immigration system.
Regardless of the tighter guidelines, Goldman stated college students nonetheless have a number of choices to proceed constructing careers within the US in the event that they put together early.
She suggested worldwide college students to begin discussions with potential employers nicely earlier than commencement and develop a number of contingency plans. These embody pursuing cap-exempt H-1B sponsorship by eligible organisations, spending one 12 months outdoors the US to qualify for an L-1 intra-company switch visa, or constructing {qualifications} for an O-1 visa for people with extraordinary means.
She said, “College students are going to wish to return proactively to corporations and say, listed here are my three choices in case I don’t win the lottery. Choice A, I can work for a CAP exempt group part-time like Construct Fellowship, and you may sponsor me full-time for a CAP exempt H1B as nicely. Choice two, I’m keen to go outdoors the US for one 12 months and you may make certain we construction this in order that I’m eligible for an L1 upon returning. Choice C, I’m going to spend the following 12 months build up my O1 case. after OPT expires, I’m able to do my O1”.
She additionally stated college students searching for better flexibility might think about acquiring O-1 visa sponsorship by an authorised agent somewhat than relying solely on an employer, permitting them better management over their immigration standing.
“Immigration just isn’t going away on this nation, however it’s getting more durable,” Goldman advised ANI, including that worldwide college students would wish to develop into much more proactive in planning their schooling, employment and immigration methods underneath the brand new regime.
Revealed on July 18, 2026
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