This week the Trump administration announced a new rule, which if passed would eliminate “duration of status” for international students. Unlike other non-immigrant classifications, international students are admitted for duration of status, meaning they can stay for as long as is required to complete their studies, OPT and STEM OPT. It also allows them to...
F-1 International students- CPT/OPT and STEM OPT
Surprisingly, this Trump administration has not attacked the H-1B program, at least not with regard to filings through USCIS. Under the previous Trump Administration, we saw a huge uptick in requests for further evidence (RFEs), and denials and approval rates took a nosedive. Since Trump took office earlier this year, approval rates remain high, although...
Jun262025
The U.S. Department of State has announced a significant change in the visa vetting process for international students and exchange visitors. Under new guidance released on June 18, 2025, all applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications will now be required to make their social media accounts public as part of expanded security...
Over the past couple of weeks, I have spoken with multiple students who have had their F-1 visas revoked and their SEVIS terminated. Most of these students had DWIs or other alcohol related arrests. Other attorneys reported speaking with students who had minor infractions such as parking or speeding tickets. In some cases, the charges...
Recent reports suggest a concerning trend: F-1 students are experiencing visa revocations and SEVIS terminations based on past criminal conduct, including arrests and convictions, leaving them out of status and at risk of removal proceedings. Who Is Being Targeted? While this appears to be a developing and unevenly applied policy, early indicators suggest that students...
On the first day of his presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order challenging a fundamental constitutional right, birthright citizenship. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship to individuals born within the United States. Trump’s order seeks to redefine eligibility, denying citizenship to children born to parents who are in the U.S. unlawfully, as well as to...
Sep62023
Travelling should be a fun experience. However, returning to the U.S. and navigating the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) process usually isn’t. This article talks about Travel tips for F-1 students wanting to travel on OPT, STEM OPT or Day 1 CPT. OPT Travelling on post completion OPT (initial 12 months) should not be...
Jul32023
Premium processing for change of status applications is finally being made available to students, marking a significant development. Previously, transitioning from say a B-1/B-2 to F-1 status could take more than 18 months, leaving individuals unable to commence their studies and stuck in a state of uncertainty. Moreover, due to the prolonged processing time, USCIS...