Weekly News Round-Up: March 9, 2023

By Shorelight Team
Published on March 9, 2023

Each week the Shorelight team rounds up trusted headlines on the latest in international education and all things impacting students and universities.

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USCIS Announces Premium Processing; New Online-Filing Procedures For Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT Or STEM OPT Extensions

Students applying for STEM CPT work authorizations will now be able to fast-track the process for a fee through premium processing.

“The availability of premium processing for certain F-1 students, in addition to the ease of online filing, will streamline the immigration experience for a great many international students,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. “The ongoing expansion of online filing is a priority for USCIS as we continue to create operational efficiencies and increase access to the immigration system for stakeholders, applicants, petitioners, requestors, and those we serve.” 

Get the full story at USCIS >

Are Geopolitical Shifts Contributing To A More Diverse Foreign Enrolment?

While this article focuses on Canada and Australia, it discusses the changes Shorelight is seeing in international student trends. Geo-political politics are having a greater impact on destination choices for international students.

“Global geopolitics have shifted dramatically over the past decade, but the shifts have never been so apparent as over the past 13 months. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has quickly united the West; cemented ties between Russia, China, and Iran; and convinced several other governments – notably India’s – that a careful neutrality is the wisest move at this point.”

Get the full story at ICEF Monitor >

Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Foxx?

This is a good series of articles about the new House Education Chairwoman, Rep. Virginia Foxx. She has held the gavel of Chairwoman before so most should be familiar with some of her goals. Reauthorizing the HEA Act is something she has worked towards for many years and will remain her #1 priority. 

“The reason I think we can do it this year is because higher ed has never been held in such low esteem as it is now,” she said. “In the past, we had members who were a little shy about doing it, because their presidents of their universities would come to them and say, ‘No, no, no, you can’t bother us,’ and they would be intimidated by them. But I don’t think that’s going to be the case this year.”

Get the full story at Inside Higher Ed >