Now Reading: US tightens work rules for foreign students, UCLA and Berkeley pause applications
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US tightens work rules for foreign students, UCLA and Berkeley pause applications
US tightens work rules for foreign students, UCLA and Berkeley pause applications
The Trump administration has issued new guidance to restrict work authorizations for international students, warning universities that non-compliance with federal rules could lead to losing their certification to enroll foreign students.
The Trump administration has issued new guidance to restrict work authorizations for international students, warning universities that non-compliance with federal rules could lead to losing their certification to enroll foreign students.
A federal memo dated August 24 from the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) cited a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that appear to violate regulatory requirements. The Department of Homeland Security said schools should consider themselves on notice that abuse will not be tolerated.
The University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Berkeley have paused certain CPT applications. UC Berkeley said it would not process such applications in the near future, urging affected students to plan accordingly, while continuing CPT tied to degree requirements.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Over 1 million international students study in the US, with Indian students comprising the largest share after China, many relying on CPT for off-campus work. The August 24 memo tightens an existing rule that CPT must be integral to the curriculum, a condition some universities have interpreted flexibly. The government has not changed the regulation text, but the warning signals stricter enforcement. Loss of SEVP certification would cripple a university's ability to attract foreign students, a major revenue source paying full out-of-state tuition. Universities are now weighing legal compliance against student needs, with UC Berkeley consulting lawyers. The key development to watch is whether other large public universities follow UCLA and Berkeley in pausing CPT, and if legal challenges emerge.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
