October 2, 2025: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- Oct 2
- 6 min read
October arrived with a chill in the air (for some)...fall semester is in full swing...and I'm still covering what's important to international students and educators...this week:
📰 Top Headlines: US international student enrollment defies predictions with 0.8% growth, Purdue blocks international students from working at student newspaper, and China launches K Visa to compete for global talent
💰 Scholarship Spotlight: Central Penn College offers up to $5,000 annual scholarships for international students
🔍 Interesting Find: Parents are ditching smartphones and bringing back landlines for their kids
⚡ Deep Dive: The surprising enrollment growth – I'm taking a closer look at the September 2025 SEVIS data.
Let's dive in!
Carrie at International Student Voice ⭐info@istudentvoice.com
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📰 TOP 3 HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
📊 US International Student Enrollments Defy Expectations, Growing 0.8%
Plot twist: Despite months of visa chaos, international student enrollments at US colleges actually grew by 0.8% in September 2025 compared to last year, according to new SEVIS data from the Department of Homeland Security. This is a major surprise considering NAFSA predicted a 15% decline after the visa suspension, 6,000 SEVIS revocations, and travel bans affecting 19 countries. Experts are scratching their heads trying to explain the "statistical cognitive dissonance." Some credit the resilience of US institutions, while others point to Optional Practical Training (OPT) extensions masking declines in new enrollments. I cover this more in-depth below in this week's Deep Dive. (The PIE News)
📰 Purdue's Split with Student Newspaper Blocks International Students from Working There
In a move that's raising eyebrows, Purdue University severed its relationship with The Exponent, the 135-year-old student newspaper, and the fallout is hitting international students hard. By no longer recognizing an expired facilities contract, the university effectively stripped The Exponent of its status as a "contracted vendor," which means international students can no longer work there under their F-1 visa requirements. The paper had to turn away four current staffers and 8-10 prospective international students—a significant blow considering Purdue enrolls over 10,000 international students (17.2% of the student body). Editor-in-Chief Olivia Mapes put it bluntly: "It feels like a further blow to us that international students' voices are being quieted." The university maintains The Exponent is a private business and shouldn't receive special treatment, but the timing and impact are hard to ignore. (Yahoo News)
🌏 China Introduces K Visa to Attract Global Talent as US Tightens H-1B Program
While the US raises H-1B visa fees to $100,000, China is rolling out the welcome mat with its new K Visa, launching October 1, 2025. The visa targets talented professionals who graduated from reputable institutions in STEM fields, and unlike most work visas, it doesn't require a domestic employer invitation and promises a streamlined application process. The timing is significant—China is positioning itself as an alternative destination for international talent and students at a moment when the US, Australia, and Canada are all tightening immigration policies. While it's unrealistic to compare the K Visa directly to the H-1B program (the US remains the top choice for global talent), China's move could make it a more attractive option for international students from Asia and Africa, especially those looking for post-graduation opportunities. Other countries like Germany, France, UAE, and Singapore are also competing for this talent pool. (Modern Diplomacy)
🎓 FEATURED SCHOLARSHIP
Central Penn College International Student Scholarships
Central Penn College offers International Student Scholarships of up to $5,000 per year for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Business/Management, Communications, Computer & Information Systems, Health Professions, or Law & Legal Studies. The scholarship is automatically awarded upon acceptance—no separate application required. We help students apply to US universities and navigate life in the US, reply to this email to learn about our services.
🔍 INTERESTING FIND
📞 Parents are Bringing Back the Landline
Forget smartphones—some parents are going full throwback with landlines for their kids. A Seattle dad created the "Tin Can," a WiFi-enabled landline with parental controls that lets kids call approved contacts during set hours, and it's gone viral among families trying to delay smartphones. Parents love that their kids can independently call friends to arrange playdates and have real conversations with grandparents without screen distractions or emoji chaos. The company has sold tens of thousands of phones across all 50 states, and they're currently back-ordered until December. One mom says her 8-year-old son used the landline to call a friend on a Saturday morning, ended up helping her clean her room for five hours, and they built a fort together—something that never would've happened through parent text coordination. (Washington Post)
News in 1 Sentence
Trump's immigration curbs are causing Indian students to reconsider studying in the US, with many now exploring alternatives like Canada, the UK, and Australia due to visa uncertainties and the new $100,000 H-1B fee.
The American Sociological Association has formally opposed the DHS proposal to eliminate "duration of status" for international students, warning it would create unnecessary bureaucratic burdens and harm US competitiveness in attracting global talent.
A new $15,000 visa bond requirement is crushing the American dreams of Malawian students and visitors who simply cannot afford the astronomical fee to enter the United States.
South Korea's foreign student enrollment surpassed 250,000 for the first time in 2025—a 21.3% increase from last year—putting the country on track to hit its goal of 300,000 international students by 2027 and join the world's top 10 study-abroad destinations.
Yale students are mobilizing against the federal proposal to replace "duration of status" with fixed-period admissions for international students, arguing it would create financial and administrative chaos for the 1.1 million international students in the US.
DEEP DIVE: IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
Looking More Closely at the "Surprising" Enrollment Growth
If you've been reading this newsletter for a while, you may recall I said a few months back we would just have to see how the numbers would shake out this year.
Well, those numbers are starting to show themselves. And it certainly has many people scratching their heads.
According to the latest SEVIS report, a report distributed by the Department of Homeland Security that provides a more timely snapshot of visa approvals, international student enrollment is up so far this fall.
Key Findings from September 2025 SEVIS Data
Overall Growth:
Total active international students: 1,300,491 (up 9.7% from August's 1,185,458)
This represents a 0.8% year-over-year increase from September 2024
Top Countries of Origin (September 2025):
India: 383,871 students (+3.6% from August)
China: 246,573 students (+12.8% from August)
South Korea: 44,962 students (+11.8% from August)
Brazil: 36,783 students (+8.8% from August)
Canada: 37,779 students (+18.7% from August)
Nepal: 34,807 students (+15.9% from August)
Vietnam: 33,464 students (+15.3% from August)
Nigeria: 24,310 students (+5.1% from August)
Notable Trends:
Strong growth from countries like Germany (+32.5%), UK (+21.4%), and Australia (+19.8%)
Nepal saw a significant growth of almost 5,000 students between August and September
Associate degrees jumped 9.1%
Doctoral enrollment grew 2.7%
Affordable states also saw an increase, such as Indiana, Florida, and Texas, while more expensive states, like New York and California, declined
The data contradicts NAFSA's earlier prediction of a 15% decline
Will the US continue to be the top destination for international students? I still think only time will tell.
Perhaps the new students who arrived this fall were already in the admissions cycle, and they still made it despite the changes and delays.
Perhaps we won't see any real changes until spring or fall of 2026. But maybe the students who are in the US will tell their friends back home, "We're here, you can still make it." Or...depending on how they're treated, they will say, "The headlines are true, don't come."
We also have to see if any changes come to OPT. US Sen. Charles Grassley is pushing to end work authorization for international students. Plus, we have to see what the $100K H-1B visa fee does to the next lottery. That news is still fresh...and most new international students were already here in the US.
But I think we can see for sure...affordability is still a major driver of decisions, regardless of what changes are to come.
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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.