Trump’s Visa Crackdown: Indian Students Hit Hard, Over 1000 F-1 Permits Revoked

A growing wave of uncertainty is sweeping through various university campuses across the United States as more than 1,000 international students have had their visas abruptly revoked or terminated without any warning.

According to the latest findings, a minimum of 1024 students at 160 colleges have been affected, based on university statements, official correspondences, and court filings.

International students residing in the US are required to obtain a visa, typically known as the F-1 student visa, which involves proving sufficient financial support and gaining admission to a government-certified institution.

We expect international students to maintain a good academic standing and limit their ability to work off-campus. Post-graduation, they can remain for up to 12 months (or 36 months for STEM graduates) under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program before applying for a work visa.

The legal status of these students is closely tracked through SEVIS—Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Normally, any change to a student's visa status, graduation, or academic withdrawal is reported and initiated by the schools themselves as part of their routine updates.

However, breaking this norm, many universities have found that their students' visas have been either revoked or terminated directly by federal authorities. Most cases provided little to no justification, leaving the students in legal trouble and at risk of deportation. These terminations have sparked legal battles, with various students successfully getting temporary restraining orders in states like Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Montana.

This situation has definitely heightened the anxieties of both the students and university officials, as many students openly reported that they had received little communication from immigration officials. A few of them also believe that these terminations are politically charged.

The growing conflict between Harvard University and the federal government. The administration has issued multiple threats targeting Harvard over its stance on campus activism and diversity initiatives—one of which reportedly includes revoking its privileges to host international students.