Shifting Policies Impacting International Students

Political developments are shaping the futures of international students. I will revisit and update this blog periodically as the landscape changes.

25 Jul 2025

Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia issued a bulletin detailing the importance of international students to the national economy. Some of the details revealed in the bulletin relate to international students' positive impacts, including spending and contributions to local labor markets. The ICEF Monitor published a useful analysis and summary of the bulletin here.

Canada

The Financial Express reported July 11 that Canada has announced new post-graduate work permit rules for international students. "The Post-Graduation Work Permit is a Canadian visa for international students, allowing up to three years of work experience and a pathway to permanent residency," according to the FE. Eligibility for a PGWP is connected to the international student's course of study and may allow students to stay in Canada to work for up to three years after graduation.

United States

Appointments for F-1 student visas have resumed in large part, though some students are finding their appointments are scheduled for after the start of the Fall semester. Students should be aware of an additional layer of review in their visa processing. This is to allow for examination of their online presence and social media accounts. Learn more about these changes here.

A new fee will be added to all non-immigrant visa processing charges. The USD $250 fee is called the Visa Integrity Fee (VIF) and will be levied in additional to other visa fees. Find out more here.

Efforts have intensified to limit pathways for international students and scholars to study and do research in the US. These specific threats to international collaboration in US higher education are concurrent to the executive branch's pressures on the higher education system as a whole. Here are some of the current movements:

The new director of US Immigration and Citizens Services (USCIS) has vowed to end the Optional Practical Training, a program that allows international students to stay on for one to three years, depending on their major, to gain work experience related to their area of study. From PIE News

According to the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and USCIS have submitted a proposals to change the landscape for international students and scholars in the US, and those applying for work visas. One measure proposes to end "duration of status", possibly impacting the ability for students to stay in the US to complete their degrees. Another proposes to make changes to the H-1B (work visa) selection process.

The current administration also took measures to greatly reduce the Department of Education's role in supporting students across the US. The Dept of Ed administered federal financial aid, student loans and work study, collected data and research, and ensured equal access to education for all students. The administration is intending to transfer much of the work to each state, and offload financial aid, loans and work study prorams to the Department of the Treasury. Read more here.

In addition, since the new administration has taken office, the federal government has greatly reduced the amount of research funding. To allow for stakeholders to follow the impacts of these cuts, the Center for American Progress (CAP) has created an interactive tool to Map Federal Funding Cuts to US Colleges and Universities.

As a result to these many impacts, many universities have taken measures to reduce costs, including reducing staffs and cutting programs. Best Colleges has compiled a list of some of the impacts these drastic measures have had on US higher education.

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11 Jun 2025

Netherlands

Several Dutch universities, including Erasmus University and Amsterdam University College, report that on May 27 the Dutch House of Representatives "voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion to cancel the proposed 'Toets Anderstalig Onderwijs' (TAO) a test intended to apply to higher education programmes taught in languages other than Dutch. The TAO was part a legislative "effort aimed at managing the increasing use of English in Dutch higher education."

The Universiteiten van Nederland (UNL), expressed strong support for the motion. "They believe the decision helps institutions move forward with more confidence, particularly when it comes to attracting international talent, which they see as vital for the Dutch economy and society."

UK

In May, a the Home Office published a white paper on immigration proposing a reduction in the graduate route, or the time international students can stay on after graduating, from 2 years to 18 months.

United States

The current administration has left students studying in the US on a student visa, and those hoping to obtain visas to start their programs in the Fall, in a state of uncertainty. The on again, off again dynamics of certain student populations, such as international students at Harvard University, and students from specific countries, are being played out almost daily. As it stands at the time of publication, international students will be able to study at Harvard, and Chinese students will be able to study in the US. In addition, a pause on visa interviews due to a planned roll out of a social media vetting policy has left students and universities wondering if visas will be processed in time to start the Fall semester. There is also a travel ban of varying degrees for individuals from a specific set countries.