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Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Education associations file amended lawsuits as international students continue to face ‘unlawful' SEVIS termination
This is an AI-generated image, used for represntational purposes only. The 'unlawful' practices of terminating SEVIS records of international students based on visa revocations and alleged criminal histories continue, even as many records have been reactivated following lawsuits and favourable injunctions by district courts. In this backdrop, the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a coalition of over 570 campus leaders, together with the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), has filed an amended lawsuit-complaint in the district court. It updates the original lawsuit-complaint submitted on April 24. These associations are challenging the unlawful mass termination of SEVIS records for F-1 students and participants in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. The lawsuit-complaint states that the US Department of State (DOS) has also misled affected students, and continues to do so, by sending emails falsely claiming they must leave the US immediately, even though visa status governs entry, and is inapplicable to whether an already-admitted student may remain in the country. DHS has since formalised a policy allowing SEVIS record terminations based on visa revocations, continuing this unlawful practice, it adds. Through this amended complaint, the associations are primarily asking the court to do three things: Hold unlawful and set aside the policy under which the mass visa revocations were carried out, and enjoin the government from using this practice again; Order the government to stop sending false and coercive emails to international students; and Hold unlawful and set aside the policy that purports to permit the termination of SEVIS records based solely on visa revocation. Miriam Feldblum, President and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance, stated, 'We are asking the court to prevent the government from engaging in similar actions in the future and to hold the agencies accountable for these unprecedented and damaging practices. The actions of the government have created chaos and fear. Even students whose SEVIS records have been reinstated continue to face uncertainty, unanswered questions about their education and career prospects, and ongoing vulnerability under the new policy. ' ' Colleges and universities have faced academic disruption, administrative burdens, and reputational harm, all of which compromise their ability to support international students. This instability jeopardises global talent recruitment, threatens academic freedom, and places undue strain on campus systems. Through this amended complaint, higher education is standing together to defend the rights and contributions of international students and scholars, whose presence, innovation, and ideas strengthen our communities and grow our economy,' she added. Rob McCarron, President and CEO of AICUM, stated: 'Our overarching goal for this litigation is to ensure due process, and that any changes to the SEVIS program be done in full compliance with statutory and regulatory procedures. More than 80,000 international students travel to Massachusetts to pursue a higher education, adding vibrancy and innovation to our campuses and often founding startups in Massachusetts. Providing due process, proper notice, stability and clarity – to students and the institutions that serve them – is critical so that everyone fully understands what needs to be done to enroll in a college or university in Massachusetts.' A joint release points out the significant role played by international students. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, international students contributed approximately $44 billion to the US economy and supported more than 3,78,000 jobs. Yet policies like the one challenged in this lawsuit threaten to undermine our ability to attract and retain top global talent, harming not only individual students and campuses but also long-term economic strength, innovation capacity, and national security. Through this legal action, the higher education community reaffirms its commitment to international students and scholars.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Is Shutting Off America's Talent Pipeline
With attention focused on workplace raids and National Guard troops in Los Angeles, it is easy to overlook the Trump administration's policies on legal immigration. Those policies came into focus at a Senate hearing last month when Joseph Edlow, nominated to be the director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), pledged to shut off America's talent pipeline. Edlow told the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 21, 2025, that he would end Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to work for 12 months in their course of study, typically after graduating. He said he would also eliminate STEM OPT, which enables students to gain practical experience by working an extra 24 months (beyond OPT) in a science, technology, engineering, or math field. The additional 24 months in STEM OPT gives employers a better chance to obtain an H-1B petition for students by entering the H-1B lottery in multiple years, a primary reason the Bush administration added STEM OPT in 2008. Edlow said he wanted to "remove the ability for employment authorizations for F-1 students beyond the time that they are in school." That phrasing may be sleight of hand. A program already exists for working while in school, called Curricular Practical Training, but it's not as widely used as OPT and STEM OPT. In the 2023–2024 academic year, 163,452 international students engaged in post-completion OPT, and 79,330 students were in STEM OPT, totaling 242,782, according to the Institute of International Education. Edlow may be promoting the policy already determined by Stephen Miller, the architect of the administration's immigration policy, who has a history of opposing international students staying in America. The Wall Street Journal reported that during President Donald Trump's first term, Miller tried to eliminate STEM OPT but was blocked by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. In 2015, Miller helped draft a bill as a staffer for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R–Ala.) that would have ended OPT, banned international students with master's or bachelor's degrees from working in the United States in H-1B status for at least 10 years after graduation, and prohibited doctorate holders from doing so for at least two years. The Financial Times reported that Miller sought to ban Chinese students from U.S. universities during Trump's first term. The first six months of Trump's second term have seen several policies directed against international students, including new limits on Chinese students, attempts to deport thousands of students for minor offenses, new social media screenings for international students, and ending Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students. "Foreign graduates of U.S. universities cause major increases in innovation," according to research by George Mason University economics professor Michael Clemens. "Immigration policy that broadly seeks ways to entice foreign graduates of U.S. universities to remain in the United States, the overwhelming mass of evidence suggests, would serve the national interest. Terminating OPT would do the opposite." Madeline Zavodny, an economics professor at the University of North Florida, found in a study by the National Foundation for American Policy that, contrary to some concerns, OPT is associated with lower unemployment rates for U.S. workers in STEM fields. Zavodny also found that enrolling immigrants and international students could allow many U.S. universities to survive as the U.S.-born college-aged population declines. Ending the ability of international students to work after graduation would contradict what then-presidential candidate Trump told venture capitalists during the All-In podcast in June 2024. "What I want to do, and what I will do, is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country." Michelle Zatlyn, president, COO, and cofounder of Cloudflare, a company with a market capitalization of $54 billion and 2,400 U.S.-based employees, told me, "The best thing the U.S. government has done on immigration is OPT to allow international students a chance to stay and work for a time after graduation. It allowed me to work with Matthew Prince on the business plan that helped create the company." International students represent 71 percent of the full-time graduate students in computer and information sciences and 73 percent in electrical and computer engineering at U.S. universities. It is already much easier to transition from a student visa to a work visa and then to permanent residence in Canada and other countries than in the United States. International student interest in coming to U.S. universities will plummet without the ability to work in their field after graduation. That will sever America's talent pipeline. The post Trump Is Shutting Off America's Talent Pipeline appeared first on
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Big 4, big bills, diminishing returns: Why Indian students are pulling back on the study abroad dream
The gleam of ivory towers and the allure of boarding a flight to a foreign land once symbolised more than just academic prestige; they enshrined a long-nurtured utopia of success, stability, and a better life. However, the glitter is rapidly tarnishing. The once cherished dream is now crumbling under the weight of apprehensions. The "Big 4" the US, UK, Canada, and Australia have long upheld the bastions of academic excellence. Today, the reputation is getting dimmed. The narrative of unquestioned promise is paving the path for hard realisation. Indian students are not chasing the study abroad dream blindly. They are weighing it with calculators in hand. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the number of Indian students heading abroad dropped by 15% between 2023 and early 2024, from 893,000 to 759,000. The reason behind this drop is not linked to a lack of ambition, but is met with harsh realities: Surging tuition fees, restrictive immigration regimes, and the sobering decline of post-study returns. Fortress nations: How the Big 4 are locking students out One by one, the Big 4 countries have pulled up their drawbridges. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Passo Fundo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Canada, in 2024, introduced a cap on student permits and hiked financial requirements to CAD 20,635. Australia doubled its visa fees and demanded higher proof of funds. The UK not only banned most dependents from accompanying international students but also raised the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas to £38,700. In the US, F-1 visa issuances fell by 38% year-on-year, according to the US Department of State, while Optional Practical Training (OPT) remained under political siege. The message is etched in black and white: These nations want Indian tuition dollars, but not the students who bring them. This two-faced approach has not gone unnoticed. Degrees without destinations: The global job market collapse The job markets in these countries have cratered, especially for fresh international graduates. According to Indeed, graduate job postings in the UK dropped by 33% in the 12 months leading up to June 2024. The Institute of Student Employers noted that each entry-level job received an average of 140 applications in 2024, a sharp rise from 86 in 2023. Artificial Intelligence, economic retrenchments are rooting out entry-level jobs. The accounting sector witnessed a 44% drop in junior openings. Human resources has seen a 62% decline. Firms like PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and EY are relying more on automation, gutting the very roles Indian students traditionally filled after graduation. From lecture halls to gig work: The unspoken reality The glossy brochures often portray innovation labs and job-ready programmes, but the lived reality for numerous students is grinding gig work, mounting debt, and mental exhaustion. The promise of gobal exposure has morphed into long hours in kitchens, warehouses, and convenience stores just to make the rent. The economic hardship bleeds into physical and psychological health. Burnout, anxiety, and a sense of betrayal are common among those who invested lakhs, even crores, into foreign degrees only to return empty-handed. Exit the West: A strategic pivot to sanity Indian students are now shifting their focus after facing these compounding challenges. Germany witnessed a 68% surge in Indian enrollments in 2024, according to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), thanks to affordable education, clear post-study pathways, and residency clarity. France, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UAE are also emerging as feasible alternative study abroad destinations. Indian students are not completely shrugging off the study abroad dream. They are recalculating. Students now prefer certainty over prestige, affordability over branding, and sustainability over fantasy. Beyond the brochures: Strategy over sentiment The rules of the game have changed. Reputation no longer guarantees outcome. Indian students are no longer swept away by ivy-covered campuses and glossy rankings. They're asking harder questions: Will this degree pay off? Will I be allowed to stay? Will I find a job that lets me build a life? In 2025, international education is no longer a rite of passage. It is a high-stakes financial decision. One that must be taken with calculators, not dreams. The script of the study abroad has completely altered. Shining degrees from Ivies no longer guarantee success. Indian students are no longer pulled by the reputation and glittery courses offered by Ivy-covered campuses with glossy international rankings. They are asking tougher questions: Will this degree pay off? Will I find a job that lets me build a life? The new intelligence: Know the numbers or pay the price Students are no longer just aiming high, but weighing practicality. Success is being redefined: Not by crossing borders, but by reading between the lines of visa rules, post-study rights, and job prospects. The foreign degree hasn't met its end; it is still breathing in the hearts of the students. But the blind chase has gone, the glitter has faded. What prevails is a stark question: One where those who fail to do the math end up paying the price for years to come. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fired from your job? Here's what thousands of H-1B workers can do
The immigrant employee post-termination guide has been shifted to the digital archives of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) which suggests that even though it may no longer be applicable in the same manner, it's still available to refer to those recently fired from their jobs. When a non-immigrant worker's employment ends, either by choice or force, they typically either become beneficiaries of a nonfrivolous petition to change employer or file an application for change of nonimmigrant status, adjustment of status, or a 'compelling circumstances' employment authorization document. ALSO READ| What is USCIS's new policy for green card applicants starting from 11 June? Here's a rundown One of these actions is required to be taken during the 60-day grace period extended to recently unemployed nonimmigrants and is usually calculated based on the last day a salary or wage is paid. Failure to take any action during this period can result in a person being forced to leave the country either once the period ends or on their authorization date, whichever option is closer. The grace period is usually provided to help beneficiaries look for suitable alternative employment or allow their spouses to continue their job roles if they carry an Employment Authorization Document or are employment-authorized incident to status. H-1B visa holders caught up in such a situation can start their new job role as soon as their employer files Form I-129, rather than waiting for it to be approved. However, those filing for jobs in different classifications need to wait for approval which takes less than 15 business days to come through. Those under the grace period are not permitted to leave the country. Failure to comply may require them to seek a new immigration status for re-entry. In the circumstance of a non-immigrant worker being outside the country at a time when the notice period has ended, the grace period is no longer applicable. If the person returns before the lapse of their notice period, a discretionary grace period may be provided. Students in the US on a 24-month Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT cannot acquire more than 150 days of unemployment during this period, including the post-completion phase and 24-month extension. Those on an F-1 visa cannot acquire more than 90 days of unemployment during post-completion of OPT since their visa status is attached to their employment. ALSO READ| Demand for H1-B visa continues, USCIS receives over 3.5 lakh registrations in FY26 The 60-day grace period is only applicable to those holding E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, or TN classifications (and their dependents).
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indian students in US at risk of deportation over not declaring job status
Hyderabad: Several Indian students in the US were served notices to prove their employment status, but many have reportedly refrained from responding due to fear of deportation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These students admitted they were not currently engaged in any authorised employment, making them vulnerable to removal from the country. The notices, issued by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), require students to respond within strict timelines—typically 15 days—or risk immediate termination of their visa status. However, many students decided against responding. The trigger was the failure to report employment under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT programme, or exceeding the allowed unemployment window. Students on F-1 visas are permitted a total of 90 days of unemployment during regular OPT, and an additional 60 days for those under STEM extensions. Breaching this limit, or failing to update employment details in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), is considered a violation of visa rules. 'They asked me to submit a letter from my employer, proof of payroll, and an updated I-983 form within 15 days,' said a 26-year-old tech graduate, currently based in Texas. 'I panicked—I don't have a job. I've applied everywhere, but I haven't heard back. Now I don't know what to do.' Those who fail to comply may have their SEVIS records terminated, which would mean immediate loss of legal status and the initiation of deportation proceedings. For many students, the threat of removal is not just about immigration—it's financial survival. The average Indian student graduating from a US institution carries an education loan burden ranging between Rs 25 to Rs 45 lakhs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With no job, no way to repay, and no visa security, the crisis is pushing some to remain in the country unlawfully. 'I don't want to become illegal, but going back means financial ruin,' said a graduate in data analytics from Atlanta. 'My father took out a loan against our house. If I leave now, we're done. How?' Some have refrained from responding to ICE altogether, fearing their confession of unemployment could speed up removal. 'It's a trap either way,' said a computer science student from Chicago. 'If I say I'm unemployed, they might deport me. If I stay silent, they'll still come after me. But at least I'll have time to figure something out.' Immigration consultants are advising affected students to warn that silence may worsen their case. 'Not responding can be interpreted as an admission of guilt or non-compliance,' said Ravi Lothumalla, an immigration consultant based in Dallas. 'The right way is to respond honestly and seek reinstatement if possible, but many students don't even know they have that option.'
