June 25, 2026: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- Jun 24
- 6 min read
It's no surprise that living in the U.S. is expensive. But finding love?
Also close to breaking the bank.
According to a new report, it costs about $190 to go on a date...that includes gas, food, clothes, and grooming.
Fortunately, this week's Deep Dive Immigration Corner proves that some of the best relationships begin in the most unexpected ways that don't cost a fortune.
More on that later in the newsletter...but here's what else I'm covering this week for international students:
📰 Top Headlines: A proposed four-year limit on international student visas moves closer to reality, the $100,000 H-1B fee is back in effect (for now), and a new economic analysis warns that declining international student enrollment could cost the U.S. billions.
🎓 Featured Scholarship: Bethany College in West Virginia is offering generous merit scholarships for qualified international students and is still accepting applications for upcoming intakes.
🤖 Interesting Find: The Washington Post tested AI chatbots to see whether they lean left, right, or stay politically neutral. You'd think they would be neutral....not so much.
⚡ Immigration Corner Deep Dive: OK...a little more of a preview. I sat down to watch a documentary about cancer...and a surprise layer in the story was an international student looking to stay in the U.S. It's a reminder that life rarely follows the script—and immigration stories are no exception.
Let's dive in!
Carrie at International Student Voice
Best Links for International Students
📰 TOP 3 HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
⏳ Four-year limit on international student visas moves one step closer to reality
The White House completed its review of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposal that would end "duration of status," the long-standing policy that allows international students to remain in the U.S. as long as they are making normal progress toward their degree. Under the proposal, most students would receive a fixed four-year period of stay and would need to apply for extensions if their programs take longer. International education leaders have warned that the change could create significant burdens for students in Ph.D. programs, medical residencies, and other degrees that routinely exceed four years. Colleges may also need to hire additional staff to help students navigate the new extension process. So, what happens now? All eyes are on DHS...all they need to do is "finalize" it for it to go into effect, which could happen any day. (Inside Higher Ed)
🎢 $100,000 H-1B fee is back on...at least for now
The court battle over the $100,000 H-1B fee has had more twists than a roller coaster. Don't unbuckle the safety belt just yet...earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the fee was likely unlawful and ordered it overturned. Now, that same judge has paused his own decision while the government appeals, meaning the fee remains in effect for the time being. The fee applies to new H-1B workers who require visa processing outside the United States and has drawn criticism from employers, universities, and immigration advocates. Multiple court challenges are still moving forward, so the policy's long-term future remains uncertain. For now, though, employers hoping to hire international talent may still face a six-figure price tag. (Bloomberg Law)
💰 New analysis warns that fewer international students could cost the U.S. hundreds of billions
The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), an independent nonpartisan economic research organization, argues that declining international student enrollment could have major long-term consequences for the U.S. economy. The report estimates that if international student inflows remain about one-third below historical levels, the U.S. economy could eventually lose between $240 billion and $481 billion in annual economic output. Why? International students don't just pay tuition—they also become a major source of highly skilled workers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. The study notes that foreign-born workers account for nearly one-third of America's STEM workforce and almost half of STEM workers with PhDs. While the economic projections are based on assumptions and future trends, the report adds another data point to the growing debate over how changes to student visa and immigration policies may affect U.S. competitiveness. (Peterson Institute for International Economics)
🎓 FEATURED SCHOLARSHIP: Bethany College
If you're still looking for a Fall 2026 university placement, Bethany College in West Virginia may be worth a look. The college is currently offering merit scholarships of up to $32,158 per year for qualified international students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Bethany provides rolling admissions, with application decisions often made within 24 to 48 hours after completion. The college is also actively encouraging applications from students who may have experienced visa denials elsewhere and are seeking alternative options. With multiple upcoming intake dates and a streamlined admissions process, this could be a useful opportunity for students who are still finalizing their plans for the coming academic year. (Bethany College)
🔍 INTERESTING FIND
🤖 The Washington Post tested whether AI chatbots are politically biased
Turns out chatbots aren't so neutral. The Washington Post recently tested several leading AI models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, and DeepSeek, by asking them dozens of politically charged questions. Researchers found that ChatGPT's responses most often reflected left-leaning viewpoints, while Google's Gemini was far more likely to present arguments from both sides. Even AI tools marketed as conservative alternatives frequently produced left-leaning responses. The study highlights a growing challenge for AI companies: people want chatbots to be objective, but defining "neutral" turns out to be surprisingly complicated. (The Washington Post)
News in 1 Sentence
A pickup soccer group at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is helping international students build friendships, practice English, and feel more at home on campus.
A new website tracking foreign gifts and contracts to U.S. colleges is drawing criticism from higher education leaders, who say its data may be incomplete or misleading.
For less than $100, a Washington Post reporter earned 11 transferable college credits in one week using Sophia Learning, highlighting how some accredited universities accept low-cost online courses for transfer credit.
An Indian graduate who borrowed up to $70,000 to earn a U.S. master's degree says the investment was "200% worth it" and shares five lessons for future international students considering studying abroad.
DEEP DIVE: IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
The Unexpected Immigration Story Inside a Cancer Documentary
I recently watched a Netflix documentary called André Is an Idiot. It's about a next-level eccentric man with terminal colon cancer reflecting on his life with remarkable honesty, humor, and an endless stream of ridiculous stories.
The title comes from what André considered the biggest mistake of his life: skipping a routine colonoscopy at age 50, a decision that ultimately led to a Stage IV colon cancer diagnosis.
I'll be honest—André is one of a kind...truly. I found myself laughing most of the time as he documented his last years on Earth. But when the time came at the end...the tears flowed just as freely as the laughs.
André jokes about chemotherapy, turns some of his darkest moments into absurd comedy, and somehow manages to make a documentary about dying feel surprisingly full of life.
Then, within the first few minutes, the documentary took a turn I never saw coming.
It became an immigration story.
Years earlier, André met Janice, a bartender from Canada who was in the United States as an international student. Her student visa was going to expire, and she needed a way to stay in the country.
One night at the bar, she dead-serious asked one of André's friends if he would marry her so she could get a green card. The friend immediately said no.
But André? He enthusiastically volunteered.
To convince immigration officials their marriage was "real", they came up with an unconventional plan: audition for The Newlywed Game.
They studied each other, developed a system for guessing each other's answers, made it onto the show...and won.
According to Janice, when they told the INS officer during their immigration interview they were on the game show, he stamped the paperwork, closed the file, congratulated them, and sent them on their way.
Afterward, their prize as the winning couple was a romantic trip to a tropical island. And...I guess they couldn't fight the romantic atmosphere...and that's when the fake marriage stopped being fake.
If you get my drift. But you know...
They stayed married for 28 years. They raised two daughters together.
Watching the documentary, it's impossible to miss how deeply they loved each other. The quiet moments between them often say more than the interviews ever could.
Every week, I spend hours reading immigration news.
The conversation is almost always about regulations, timelines, and compliance.
Those things matter. Immigration laws exist for good reasons, and maintaining the integrity of the system is important.
I'm certainly not suggesting that people should bend the rules or pursue fraudulent marriages. I've heard stories of green card marriages that ended badly, leaving people unhappy, exploited, or facing serious legal consequences.
But behind every visa, immigration petition, policy change, and headline is a human story that no regulation could ever fully predict.
If André had said no that day, Janice might have returned to Canada. They may never have built a life together. Two daughters might never have existed. None of us can know.
André believed the biggest mistake of his life was saying no to a colonoscopy.
That decision ultimately cost him his life.
But saying yes to an impulsive marriage gave him something else entirely—a wife, two daughters, and nearly three decades with the people he loved most.
And perhaps that's why this documentary stayed with me long after the credits rolled.*Sigh*...The human experience is just...amazingly unpredictable.
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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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