The DHS OPT fee proposal would require SEVP-certified U.S. schools to pay $70,000 before an initial F-1 OPT recommendation and $30,000 for later recommendations, potentially reshaping post-study work options for international students.   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a major new fee structure for Optional Practical Training, or OPT, that would require participating colleges and universities to pay tens of thousands of dollars before

An Indian student seeking an F-1 visa says an October 19, 2026 interview in Mumbai was canceled after the student refused an agent’s additional ₹20,000 demand, raising questions about private consultant fees, visa appointments and official U.S. student visa costs. An Indian student planning to study in the United States has alleged that an F-1 visa interview appointment was canceled after the student refused to pay a private agent an additional ₹20,000.

US visa revocation can create serious travel problems for NRIs, especially Indian workers, students and families returning from India. This guide explains how revocation may affect return travel, dependents, visa stamping and future applications. For many NRIs, a U.S. visa is more than a travel document. It may be connected to employment, education or family life in the United States. That makes visa revocation particularly disruptive when an Indian profes

India family green card applicants may fall under F1, F2A, F2B, F3 or F4 depending on their relationship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Each category has separate annual limits, priority dates and Visa Bulletin cutoffs. The U.S. family-sponsored green card system divides certain relatives into preference categories known as F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4. For applicants chargeable to India, these categories can have very different Visa Bulletin c

A California federal court ruled that student visa revocation and deportation provisions cannot be enforced against lawfully present noncitizens solely for First Amendment-protected speech. The ruling granted declaratory relief but stopped short of a permanent injunction. A federal judge in California has ruled that the U.S. government cannot use certain immigration powers to revoke visas or pursue deportation against lawfully present noncitizens when enforcement is

The Trump administration has increased scrutiny of Curricular Practical Training approvals for F-1 international students, warning that universities could lose authorization to enrol foreign students if they improperly approve off-campus internships. Federal Government Increases CPT Oversight The Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which operates under US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has warned Designated School Officials that Cu

Can an F-1 student start a business in the US? Ownership and employment are separate. F-1 students may pursue entrepreneurship through qualifying OPT, while unauthorized day-to-day work can violate status. STEM OPT startups face additional employer and training requirements. An F-1 international student may be able to own or invest in a U.S. business, but actively working for that business is a separate immigration

Indian student applications to US colleges are showing signs of pressure ahead of Fall 2026. Common App submissions from India fell 14%, while visa appointment delays and new F-1 rules add uncertainty for the largest international student group in America. Applications from India are showing signs of slowing as U.S. colleges prepare for Fall 2026. Common App submissions from international applicants declined 9% for the 202

Fall 2026 US student visa delays are creating uneven appointment availability for Indian applicants. Current State Department data show waits varying by consulate, while students are urged to apply early, monitor new slots and contact their university if arrival may be delayed. International students preparing for Fall 2026 are facing uneven access to U.S. visa appointments. NAFSA said on August 11, 2026, that limited or d

The F-1 fixed admission rule scheduled for September 15, 2026, would replace open-ended duration-of-status admissions with fixed periods. Indian students may face new requirements involving I-94 dates, program extensions, OPT, transfers and graduate study. F-1 students would receive a fixed admission date A major U.S. immigration rule scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, would end th

US international student enrollment could fall 9.5% in Fall 2026, with NAFSA and JB International projecting up to 111,000 fewer students. Visa delays, policy changes and graduate-level declines could cut $3.4 billion in spending and affect 39,000 U.S. jobs. U.S. colleges and universities could enroll up to 111,000 fewer international students in Fall 2026, according to preliminary projections released August 11, 2026, by

The Tucson murder case involving 19-year-old Julissa Rubi Salazar has led to the arrest of Indian national Varun Batchigari in Germany. He faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Arizona and is being held pending extradition to Pima County. A 20-year-old Indian national accused of killing his 19-year-old girlfriend in Tucson, Arizona, has been arrested in Germany and is awaiting extradition to Arizona. Varun Ba

Trump OPT Proposal Could Cost Indian Students $100,000 The Trump OPT proposal could dramatically increase the cost of studying in the United States by introducing a reported $100,000 fee for post-study work authorization. While the proposal has not been officially announced, it has raised concerns among Indian students, universities and employers because of the OPT programme's importance. US OPT Programme F

The US is considering a $100,000 OPT fee for international graduates, though no formal policy has been issued. The proposal comes as a separate DHS rule ending duration of status for many F, J and I visa holders takes effect on September 15, 2026, nationwide. The Trump administration is considering a $100,000 fee connected to Optional Practical Training, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday, July 30

Private summer camps in Beijing are reportedly preparing Chinese students for possible encounters with US immigration officers as anxiety grows over stricter enforcement and changing expectations for international students. Advertisements for the programmes describe simulations involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in homes, schools and public places. The training forms part of broader safety courses that already cover sca

The F-1 grace period will generally fall from 60 days to 30 days under the DHS fixed-stay rule effective September 15, 2026. Qualifying students protected by the transition provisions may retain 60 days after their Form I-20 or EAD end date, subject to the rule’s limits. The Department of Homeland Security’s final fixed-stay rule will reduce the standard F-1 departure period from 60 days to 30 days for students admitted un

F-1 student travel after September 15, 2026, may lead to a fixed admission period at reentry. Students should check the new Form I-94, understand how travel affects transition protection, and review risks involving OPT, STEM OPT and pending extension applications. The Department of Homeland Security’s final fixed-stay rule will change what happens when some F-1 students return to the United States after international travel. Published on Friday, July 17, 2026, it

The OPT under new F-1 rule creates a temporary Form I-539 exemption for qualifying students who file Form I-765 by March 18, 2027. Other post-completion OPT and STEM OPT applicants may need separate employment authorization and extension-of-stay filings. The Department of Homeland Security’s fixed-stay rule changes how some F-1 students will request post-completion Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT. Published on Friday, July 17, 2026, it takes effect on Tue

The F-1 transition rules allow many students maintaining D/S status in the United States on September 15, 2026, to remain through their current Form I-20 or EAD end date, subject to a four-year cap. Travel, program changes or additional study time may require new action. The Department of Homeland Security published its final fixed-stay rule on Friday, July 17, 2026. It is scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and includes a transition period for

The DHS F-1 duration of status rule takes effect September 15, 2026, replacing open-ended D/S admission with fixed stays. New students may receive up to four years, while eligible students already in the U.S. receive transition protection and new extension filing requirements. The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule ending the “duration of status,” or D/S, admission system for F-1 students. Published on Friday, July 17, 2026, the rule takes effe