New Visa Rules: What International Students in US Need to Know

The recent changes to US visa rules are likely to impact the study experiences of international students in the country.

These changes include new policies, increased fees, updates to practical training regulations, and more, Erudera.com reports.

Universities and colleges in the United States attract the highest number of international students in the world. Last year, over one million international students attended higher education institutions in the country, mostly Chinese and Indian.

These recent changes international students should be aware of include:

Increased H-1B Visa Fees

The H-1B visa, which international students should apply for when they want to work in the US, is usually the route that many international students choose after graduation.

The fee for this type of visa has significantly increased, with the registration costs soaring from $10 to $215 per applicant, meaning a 2150 percent increase. The application fee has also risen from $460 to $780, a 70 percent increase.

H-1B visa applicants may also have to pay fees for the following:

• Fraud Prevention and Detection
• Asylum Program
• Fees mandated by Public Law 114-113
• American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) fee.

Higher Green Card Application Fees

Green Card applicants should also pay more when submitting applications. The I-130 petition filing fee has gone up to $675 for paper applications, a 26 percent increase, and $625 for those online, a 17 percent increase.

Before this change went into effect, the fee was $535.

Moreover, an Asylum Program fee of $600 has been introduced, which applies to non-immigrant and immigrant workers.

Strengthened Requirements for Student Visas

Students applying for F, M, and J visas must now provide more detailed information when scheduling appointments, including passport details,. This change comes in a bid to simplify the process and prevent any possible mistakes while booking the appointment.

Extension of Employment Authorization Documents

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an extension of the validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to five years for those who qualify.

Updates on Practical Training Regulations

Practical Training (PT) allows international students in the United States to gain work experience in their field of study. There are two types of practical training for international students on F-1 visas: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Before April 1, 2024, these students could extend their Post-Completion OPT for up to 24 months, employers were obliged to participate in the E-Verify program, and students on STEM OPT had to update their Designated School Official (DSO) every six months.

After this date, the E-verify is no longer in place, although employers should still document an official training plan through the I-983 form. The post-completion extension has not changed.

Additionally, students should pay an increased fee for the STEM OPT extension application (Form I-765) from $470 for online applications and $520 for paper applications.

HolonIQ, a global impact intelligence platform, has foreseen an increase in international students in the US from over one million to up to 2.8 million by 2034.

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