The US Is Reinstating Records for International Students. For Some, It’s Too Late
Over the past two weeks, our team and the U.S. for Success Coalition met with congressional staff from both parties to address the long-term impact on international students whose visas were revoked and SEVIS records terminated, then later restored. We highlighted that hundreds of students, acting out of fear, self-deported and now face permanent exclusion and severe financial hardship. Those who remained are left with uncertainty about their future status and continued risk. We are urgently seeking clarity and remain hopeful for a forthcoming response from the administration.
As the government begins reinstating students’ records, many face a daunting and complicated path toward rebuilding their lives. For those who left, there is no guarantee they can return. Others have faced challenges reenrolling in school and returning to jobs.
America’s College Towns Go From Boom to Bust
Our team, along with our allies, are focused on efforts aimed at dismantling lingering falsehoods about international students displacing domestic students or that their enrollments at US universities are purely profit-driven. We are always advocating for the clear value international students bring: enriching campuses, fostering innovation, and driving US entrepreneurship. This article underscores the critical impact on communities when their university-led economies decline. With a demographic cliff approaching, marked by fewer domestic students, the US faces a crucial choice.
For generations, colleges around the U.S. fueled local economies, creating jobs and bringing in students to shop and spend. Growing student enrollment fattened school budgets and freed universities from having to worry about inefficiencies or cutting costs.
Read more on the Wall Street Journal >
What International Students in the US Need To Know: Risks, Rights and Resources
As many know, our teams at Shorelight have been hosting global webinars with students, families, and educational agents to explain recent US policy actions and reassure them that they are welcome here. We’ve emphasized the importance of starting the visa process early, being prepared and genuine at the consular window, and staying engaged with their campus ISSS offices. More than ever, international students must understand university policies and maintain visa compliance. This article offers helpful insights that align with the guidance we’ve been sharing.
Be Vigilant About Visa Status and Rules
“We’re not in an environment where it’s OK to be sloppy about that anymore,” says Clay Harmon, executive director of the Association of International Enrollment Management. “It’s not that it’s a new responsibility, but I would implore (students) to have a heightened level of attention to that.”
