October 23, 2025: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
The U.S. just fell out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world. We're now sitting at #11, tied with Norway and New Zealand.
Still...not bad...not bad...but I now have more of a reason to stay put and work my way through Yelp's top 20 pizza chains in the country. 🍕
While I'm contemplating my pizza tour (and welcome any suggestions on where to start), I got the latest international student news for you this week:
📰 Top Headlines: USCIS clarifies the $100K H-1B fee (spoiler: F-1 students are exempt), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues over the fee, and a UChicago international student was detained by federal agents near campus
💰 Featured Scholarship: Your ultimate toolkit—a curated list of scholarship databases for international students
🌟 Interesting Find: Why the latest U.S. visa rules may actually benefit international students (yes, really)
⚡ Deep Dive: Immigration Corner: The F-1 to H-1B pipeline—who are H-1B workers, and how many were F-1 international students first?
All fresh out of the oven...let's dig in!
Carrie at International Student Voice ⭐
Best Links for International Students
📰 TOP 3 HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
💰 USCIS Clarifies Who Must Pay $100K H-1B Visa Fee
Important update for international students on F-1 visas: USCIS just clarified that the controversial $100K H-1B fee only applies to new applicants currently living abroad (phew!) That means if you're already in the US on an F-1 visa and want to change your status to H-1B after graduation, your employer won't have to pay the massive $100K fee—just the standard $2K-$5K in application fees. The new fee must be paid by employers before applying for the visa and doesn't apply to renewals, extensions, or status changes for people already in the US. This is a huge relief for international graduates hoping to transition from OPT to H-1B, since that six-figure price tag could have made employers think twice about sponsoring recent grads. The clarification comes after weeks of confusion since President Trump signed the proclamation in early October. In this week's deep dive, I'm taking a closer look at how many students change their status from F-1 to H-1B (see below). (CBS News)
⚖️ U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sues Trump Administration Over $100K H-1B Fee
Even though there's good news for F-1 students...there are still plenty of folks who are still salty about the $100K H-1B fee. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce just filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's $100K H-1B visa fee, calling it "plainly unlawful." Filed on October 16, the lawsuit argues that the fee was imposed without proper legal authority and would make the H-1B program economically unviable for many businesses. The Chamber—representing more than 3 million companies—claims the proclamation bypassed standard regulatory procedures and violates administrative law. This is the Chamber's first lawsuit against Trump in his second term, and it's a big deal: the organization rarely takes legal action against sitting presidents. The case is being closely watched by universities, tech companies, and employers who rely on international talent to fill critical roles. (Biz Legal Services)
🚨 Federal Agents Briefly Detain UChicago International Student Near Campus
A University of Chicago international student was briefly detained by federal agents on October 15 at East 55th Street and South University Avenue—right near campus in Hyde Park. The detention happened during "Operation Midway Blitz," a massive ICE enforcement operation that swept through Chicago in recent weeks, arresting over 1,000 immigrants across the area by early October. The student was stopped on the street and questioned before being released. The incident has sent shockwaves through UChicago's international student community, prompting the university to issue guidance reminding students of their rights during encounters with law enforcement and urging them to carry immigration documents at all times. (Chicago Maroon)
🎓 FEATURED SCHOLARSHIP
Your Ultimate Scholarship Search Toolkit
Forget scrolling endlessly through random scholarship sites—EduPASS just made your life easier. They've compiled a comprehensive list of websites where international students can actually search for scholarships, all in one place. The database includes everything from general scholarship search engines to country-specific resources, merit-based awards, and field-specific funding opportunities. Whether you're looking for undergrad scholarships, graduate funding, or niche awards in your major, check out the full list at EduPASS Scholarship Databases. We help international students apply to schools in the US - reply to this email to learn more.
🔍 INTERESTING FIND
📊 Unnecessary Policy Panic? Why New US Visa Rules May Actually Benefit Students
Amid all the headlines about H-1B fees and enrollment caps, I thought this was a refreshing take: These policies might not be the disaster everyone thinks they are. The Hindu published an analysis breaking down why Indian students (and international students in general) shouldn't panic. First, the $100K H-1B fee doesn't apply to F-1 students already in the US. Second, the so-called "5% cap" on international undergrads only applies to nine federally funded universities and is entirely voluntary. Even if it were enforced across all U.S. colleges, the cap would allow for 964,000 Indian undergrads for example—far more than the 36,000 currently enrolled. The article argues that US universities are actually ramping up recruitment efforts, offering more scholarships and faster admissions. Bottom line: the US still needs international talent, and well-prepared students in high-demand fields like engineering and data science may find themselves with even more opportunities. (The Hindu)
News in 1 Sentence
Presidents' Alliance released a comprehensive guide for colleges on how to respond to immigration enforcement on campus, including legal protocols, student rights, and institutional responsibilities amid increased ICE activity near universities.
Walmart paused job offers to candidates requiring H-1B visa sponsorship as the retail giant reassesses its immigration hiring strategy in response to the Trump administration's new visa policies.
University of Connecticut President Radenka Maric, who immigrated to the U.S. from Croatia, says foreign academics haven't given up on the American dream despite growing visa restrictions and political uncertainty.
The public comment period on the proposed H-1B Weighted Lottery rule closes on October 24, with advocacy groups warning the rule would prioritize mid-career professionals over recent international graduates by favoring higher wage levels.
BBC reports that US campus activists, including international students, are expressing mixed emotions of relief and anxiety a year after protests rocked colleges, following the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement.
DEEP DIVE: IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
How Many H-1B Visa Holders Were First F-1 International Students?
By now, you've probably heard the good news: if you're already in the U.S. on an F-1 visa and planning to transition to H-1B after graduation, you won't have to worry about the $100K fee. That's a huge relief for international students who've been watching the headlines with anxiety.
I thought it would be a good time to revisit just how many H-1B visa holders were previously F-1 international students. And more broadly, who are H-1B visa holders? Where do they come from? What industries hire them? What do they earn?
Let's dig into the data.
The Student-to-Worker Pipeline by the Numbers
Here's the headline: According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, more than half of all H-1B visas approved in 2024 went to applicants already living in the US. And of those? About 70% were previously on F-1 student visas.
When you look at the past few years, from 2020-2023, according to data I shared previously via the Heritage Foundation:
450,000 H-1B applications were approved
Most recipients are between 25-30 years old - recent graduates transitioning from student visas (in fact, nearly 55% were previously on an F-1 visa).
Let that sink in.
The majority of H-1B holders aren't being hired directly from abroad—they're international graduates who studied here, completed OPT, and then transitioned to work visas. This is the student-to-worker pipeline in action, and it's the primary pathway for international students to stay in the US after graduation.
Who Gets H-1B Visas?
So who are these H-1B workers? Let's break it down by country, industry, and employer.
By Country:
According to data from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, about half a million people in the U.S. hold H-1B visas.
In fiscal year 2024 (October 2023–September 2024):
India accounted for 71% of H-1B visa holders
China came in second at 11.7%
By Industry:
"Computer-related" occupations made up the bulk of H-1B employment in 2024. These jobs include systems analysis, programming, and other tech roles.
Tech companies have a deeply entrenched culture of hiring immigrant workers, and the H-1B program has been essential to filling high-demand roles in Silicon Valley and beyond.
What Do H-1B Workers Earn?
Let's talk money. According to The Washington Post's analysis of DHS and USCIS data:
The median salary for computer-related occupations (which account for the bulk of H-1B visas) was:
$101,000 for first-time H-1B visa holders
$135,000 for those who've been working in the U.S. longer
For context, the real median household income in the U.S. was $83,730 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Here's the kicker: The $100K H-1B fee is 99% of a new visa holder's median salary. That's why the fee sparked so much panic—it's not just a bureaucratic charge; it's nearly equivalent to an entire year's salary for a recent grad.
But, according to the Heritage Foundation's analysis of H-1B salaries compared to domestic workers, those on H-1B visas are not being paid fairly.
That is why the Trump Administration is advocating to scrap the random lottery entirely and replace it with a wage-based ranking system. Under this approach, employers offering the highest salaries (adjusted for regional cost differences) would get priority for H-1B visas.
I covered this more in a previous newsletter if you want to dive deeper.
Why This Matters for International Students
The F-1 to H-1B pathway is the primary route for international graduates to stay and work in the U.S. after earning their degrees.
The data makes it clear: Most H-1B workers didn't just show up from abroad—they studied here, built skills here, and transitioned into the workforce here.
It can seem a bit chaotic and stressful when the latest headline comes out and no one seems to know what's going on. We've seen A LOT of that this year...even I was trying to keep up with the news about this new $100K H-1B fee. My first question was: Does this apply to current international students going from F-1/OPT to H-1B???
This was weeks ago. First, people were saying yes. Now, this week, we finally know the answer is no.
You've heard me say before: "We have to see how things shake out." Because believe it or not, people make decisions without fully understanding the context—or how those decisions ripple out and impact thousands of people in different ways.
So...I know this has been stressful. But know there are folks like me doing our best to stay up-to-date so we can support you with the most current information. As long as you show up, you'll have support.
SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE!
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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