June 18, 2026: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- Jun 18
- 7 min read
There's only one thing more American than apple pie...
Is a McDonald's apple pie.
In honor of the U.S. turning 250-years-old, McDonald's is bringing back the sliced and deep-fried piece of nostalgia.
*core memory unlocked for an entire generation*
I encourage you to take advantage of this historical moment and take a bite of a treasured American pastime...but be careful.
Part of the pleasure is also experiencing the pain of hot, apple pie filling scorching the top of your mouth.
Still...totally worth it.
And this week, here is what's newsworthy for international students:
📰 Top Headlines: International students founded one-quarter of America's billion-dollar startups, a visually impaired student from Vietnam earned admission to six elite universities, and a former refugee established a scholarship fund to support international students.
🎓 Featured Scholarship: Pomona College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students and offers some of the most generous aid packages in the United States.
🌊 Interesting Find: Creative solution...or making things worse? China launched the world's first commercial underwater data center
⚡ Immigration Corner Deep Dive: When does posting on YouTube, TikTok, or social media become "work" under U.S. immigration rules? We explore what international students need to know about online content creation, monetization, and maintaining status.
Wazing to the nearest McDonald's,
Carrie at International Student Voice
Best Links for International Students
📰 TOP 3 HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
🦄 International students helped build one-quarter of America's billion-dollar startups
International students are playing an outsized role in the U.S. economy. According to a new analysis, one in four American startups valued at $1 billion or more was founded by someone who first came to the United States on a student visa. Nearly 60 percent of all U.S. "unicorns"—private companies worth at least $1 billion—have at least one immigrant founder. These companies collectively employ millions of people and are worth an estimated $6 trillion. The findings add to the ongoing debate over immigration policies, with advocates arguing that attracting and retaining international talent provides major economic benefits for the United States. I think those numbers tell a pretty compelling story. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
🎓 Vietnamese student with severe vision loss admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Brown, and Johns Hopkins
Oh...is that all? I was amazed reading about Dong Thi Hai Yen, a 25-year-old graduate of Fulbright University Vietnam. She has been admitted to six of the world's most prestigious graduate programs, including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Brown, and Johns Hopkins. Yen was born with a hereditary eye condition, underwent seven surgeries, and is now completely blind in one eye with limited vision in the other. Along the way, she learned Braille, overcame repeated academic challenges, and became the first person in her family to earn a university degree. Her research focuses on mental health, disability, and social inclusion, and she has also helped create employment opportunities for visually impaired individuals in Vietnam. Yen says she hopes her success will encourage others to pursue their goals regardless of the obstacles they face. I'm not crying, you're crying. (VnExpress)
❤️ Former refugee creates scholarship fund for international students
After fleeing Communist Romania as a refugee in 1983 and rebuilding her life in the United States, retired West Virginia University administrator Doina Jikich is giving back to the next generation of international students. Jikich, who spent 30 years helping international students and scholars navigate life in the U.S., recently established a scholarship to support undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. She says her own experiences with displacement, family separation, and starting over in a new country helped her understand the challenges many international students face. Because international students are not eligible for federal financial aid and often have limited employment options, private scholarships can make a significant difference. Jikich hopes the fund sends a simple message to students far from home: someone believes in them and wants them to succeed. Oh...who am I kidding...I'm crying now. (West Virginia University)
🎓 FEATURED SCHOLARSHIP: Pomona College
Pomona College is one of the most generous colleges in the United States for international students with financial need. Located in Claremont, California, this highly selective liberal arts college meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students and does not use loans to meet that need. Financial aid packages are primarily made up of grants and a modest student employment expectation, helping students graduate with less debt. About 41% of Pomona’s international students receive need-based aid, with the average award approaching $74,000 per year. (Pomona College)
🔍 INTERESTING FIND
🌊 China's solution to data center debates? Put them underwater.
Data centers have become one of the hottest political and environmental debates in the United States, with communities arguing over their enormous energy demands, water consumption, and land use. China's latest response is surprisingly simple: move them to the bottom of the ocean. The country recently activated what is being described as the world's first commercial underwater data center, with server modules submerged off the coast of Hainan Province. By using seawater for cooling, the facility dramatically reduces the need for energy-intensive air conditioning, one of the biggest expenses for traditional data centers. Hmmm...I get the concept...but I wonder about the effect on already rising ocean temperatures. (Gizmodo)
News in 1 Sentence
International and out-of-state students at the University of Florida are raising concerns about a proposed 15% tuition increase that would push nonresident tuition costs up 25% over two years.
International Baccalaureate students applying to Yale University will now be required to submit SAT or ACT scores, ending a policy that previously allowed many international applicants to use IB exam results instead.
A University of Alabama at Birmingham profile highlights how international student Tolu Akinyemi has built community through creative projects and volunteer work while pursuing graduate studies.
Ohio State University student Ramya Krishna Govardhan credits the university’s international student community with helping her successfully navigate the transition from India to life in the United States.
DEEP DIVE: IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
When Does Social Media Become "Work" for International Students?
For certain fans visiting the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and plan to post videos on TikTok or YouTube, immigration officials have a message: be careful if those videos make money.
Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security warned that foreign influencers who travel to the United States primarily to create monetized content may need a work visa rather than a tourist visa.
The announcement was directed at creators expected to cover the World Cup, but it highlights a much bigger immigration question, especially for international students: when does online activity become "work"?
Because we all know there are strict rules when it comes to international students working.
For this deep dive, I went to the expert, Robin Catmur-Smith, the Managing Director of the International Student Resource Center to help cover this topic.
So..Why is This Complicated?
At first glance, the answer seems obvious. Taking vacation photos and posting them online is not a job.
But what if those photos appear on a monetized YouTube channel?
What if the creator earns advertising revenue?
What if a company sponsors the trip?
What if creating content is the main reason the person traveled?
The challenge is that immigration laws were written long before social media, YouTube, TikTok, podcasts, newsletters, and digital creator businesses existed.
Historically, immigration officials focused on traditional employment. The creator economy has complicated that picture.
Today, someone can earn income from advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, subscriptions, donations, or digital products while sitting in a hotel room with a laptop and smartphone.
Why Should International Students Care?
This issue extends far beyond influencers.
Many international students operate YouTube channels, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, tutoring businesses, mobile apps, or social media accounts that generate revenue.
Some earn only a few dollars each month. Others build substantial audiences.
In some cases, students may assume that because the activity happens online or because the money comes from outside the United States, it falls outside immigration rules. The reality is often more complicated.
How is "Work" Defined?
Robin Catmur-Smith, the Managing Director of the International Student Resource Center, said there is no official definition of employment in immigration law, but a broad functional definition is:
"Any service or labor performed, whether on-campus or off-campus, in person or online, in exchange for compensation or a benefit, or work of a type that would typically be compensated in a commercial setting."
Robin continued to explain that this definition is intentionally broad. It includes wages or salary, tips and gratuities, commission or profit from sales, barter or trade of services, and equity or stock options where the equity is tied to performance or services. Unpaid internships at for-profit companies, self-employment, and entrepreneurial income can fall within the concept of employment.
Robin cautions that students should be aware of some common misunderstandings.
For example:
A student cannot avoid the employment analysis simply by characterizing an arrangement as volunteer work, labeling it self-employment, or receiving compensation in a non-traditional form.
The substance of the activity matters more than the label attached to it.
Remember: Location...Location...Location
International students sometimes assume that if they are working for a company in another country, and being paid in that country, it does not count as “working” in the U.S.
That is not the case.
"If a person is performing work online, is physically inside the U.S., and is not authorized for that activity under the student regulations, that work is unauthorized for an international student," Robin explained.
Robin continued to remind international students that while in the U.S. they are required to file tax forms each year and disclose any and all income. If that includes income from another country and it is not authorized within the U.S., it can be considered a violation of status.
The Bigger Trend
The World Cup announcement may be a sign of a broader trend. Governments around the world are paying closer attention to digital work, remote work, influencer marketing, and online income.
Activities that once attracted little scrutiny are becoming more visible and easier to document through social media itself.
As online work continues to evolve, immigration systems around the world are still trying to answer a question that didn't exist when many of today's visa rules were written:
When does posting online become work?
What Should International Students Do?
Before planning to perform activities on social media that could result in compensation, be sure to ask questions about what impact that might have on your immigration status.
Contact your DSO or ARO, or contact the International Student Resource Center Help Desk. The ISRC also has a recorded webinar that covers issues and information on various entrepreneurial activities.
Immigration rules often depend on specific facts and circumstances, so it's important to seek guidance before making assumptions.
P.S. Fellow reader...your feedback on last week's newsletter made me smile! Thank you for reading :)
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Disclaimer: International Student Voice is not an immigration attorney or immigration advisor. The purpose of this newsletter is strictly educational. Always consult with qualified legal counsel for advice specific to your situation.
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