June 5, 2025: This Week in International Student News
- International Student Voice Team
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Hey there, future changemakers! 👋
This week, we're cutting straight to what matters most: the latest policy updates affecting your visa status, highlighting data about where international students are thriving in America, fresh scholarship opportunities with June deadlines, and a game-changing immigration path that could help you skip the H-1B lottery entirely.
Let's dive in—there's a lot to unpack this week.
International Student Voice Team ⭐
THIS WEEK FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 📰
🔹 DHS Announces Visa Overstay Crackdown Following Boulder Attack Following the arrest of an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa and allegedly committed a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, the Department of Homeland Security announced an immediate crackdown on visa overstays. CBP, ICE, and USCIS will ramp up reviews of immigration records and take "immediate appropriate actions" against those who have overstayed their visas. The announcement affects all visa categories and could impact international students who have fallen out of status. Read the full USCIS press release
🔹 Trump Administration Issues New Harvard Restrictions In a major escalation, the White House issued a proclamation on June 4, 2025, suspending entry of any new Harvard students under F, M, or J visas. This comes after previous attempts to revoke Harvard's certification to enroll international students. White House Fact Sheet
🔹 International Students Feel "Under Attack" as Policies Pile Up A comprehensive Forbes analysis details how immigration restrictions are accumulating for international students, with students from India and other countries expressing that they feel their "American dream" is ending. Read the full analysis at Forbes
🔹 ICE Expands Authority to Terminate Student Status New policies give Immigration and Customs Enforcement broader authority to terminate students' SEVIS status, with officials asserting "inherent authority" to monitor compliance more aggressively. Details at Inside Higher Ed
🔹 OPT Program Faces Potential Elimination A Trump administration nominee for USCIS director has stated intentions to end Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international students, which would eliminate post-graduation work opportunities for nearly 250,000 recent graduates currently on OPT or STEM-OPT extensions. Read more at Forbes
🔹 Analysis: Second-Tier Universities Face Greatest Risk from International Student Decline A new analysis reveals that while elite universities like Harvard (28% international students) and Columbia (40% international students) grab headlines, second and third-tier institutions may suffer most from declining international enrollment. These universities rely heavily on international student tuition revenue but lack the financial cushions of elite schools. Public universities that previously used international students to offset declining state funding are particularly vulnerable. Read the full analysis at The Economist
SPOTLIGHT: States with the Most International Students
California, New York, and Texas: The Top Destinations for International Education
Ever wondered where most international students choose to study in America? New data reveals the clear winners in attracting global talent to U.S. universities.
🏆 The Top 5 States
California: 12.5% of all international students (approximately 137,500 students)
New York: 12.1% of all international students (approximately 133,100 students)
Texas: 8% of all international students (approximately 88,000 students)
Massachusetts: 7.3% of all international students (approximately 80,300 students)
Illinois: 5.5% of all international students (approximately 60,500 students)
Why These States Dominate:
California leads with its combination of world-renowned universities (Stanford, UC system, Caltech), thriving tech industry, and diverse cultural landscape. New York attracts students with its global business hub status, prestigious institutions like Columbia and NYU, and unmatched cultural opportunities.
The Economic Impact: These five states alone host nearly half of America's 1.1 million international students, contributing billions to local economies. International students nationwide contribute $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and support hundreds of thousands of American jobs—from campus bookstores to local restaurants to housing markets.
Looking Ahead: With current policy uncertainties, these economic powerhouses have the most to lose—but also the strongest advocacy voices for international education. College towns in these states are already mobilizing to protect their international student populations.
Considering one of these top states for your studies? Research living costs, campus support services, and local job markets to make the best choice for your goals.
Want help finding the best place to study? Contact our team. All is not lost - universities are working hard to attract international students, and visas are still being issued.
FUNDING YOUR FUTURE: Scholarship Opportunities 💰
MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship Deadline: June 30, 2025
Eligibility: Women international students pursuing STEM fields
Award: $6,000
Study a Bachelor's in the USA Scholarship Deadline: June 28, 2025
Eligibility: International undergraduate students (non-U.S. citizens)
Award: $5,000
Student Advocacy Scholarship Deadline: June 15, 2025
Eligibility: Students advocating for positive change
Award: $1,000
GeneTex Scholarship Deadline: July 11, 2025
Eligibility: International students in life sciences/biotechnology
Award: $2,000
Global Citizen Scholarship Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: International students demonstrating global citizenship
Award: $10,000
IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
The Green Card Path No One Talks About (But Should)
While headlines focus on student visa freezes and H-1B lottery chaos, immigration attorneys are quietly reporting a surge in applications for a lesser-known route to permanent residency: the EB3 green card.
What makes EB3 different?
It allows you to skip the entire OPT → H-1B → Green Card gauntlet that has international students stressed and uncertain. Instead, you can start the green card process while still on your F-1 visa and potentially have your permanent residency in about 2.5 years.
The surprising part?
You can have a master's degree and still qualify for EB3 "unskilled worker" sponsorship. Think food service, retail, or janitorial work—jobs that many employers struggle to fill with U.S. workers.
Why now?
With current visa uncertainties, many students are realizing that a predictable path to permanent residency might be worth more than holding out for their "dream job" sponsorship that may never come.
The catch?
Timing and planning are everything. The process works best if you start early in your studies and can maintain F-1 status throughout the 2.5-year timeline.
Want the full details? We've written a comprehensive guide covering everything from finding sponsors to understanding costs, timelines, and whether this path makes sense for your situation.
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