US Tightens Rules on International Student Internships; Top Universities Issue Warnings
SingTao · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Trump administration has issued a memorandum to major universities restricting the issuance of internship work permits to international students. Purdue University and UC Berkeley have issued urgent warnings, while UCLA and Berkeley have suspended certain work authorization applications. Chinese students at Berkeley say the new regulations are causing widespread anxiety on campus.
Key Points
- The Department of Homeland Security memorandum dated August 24 specifies that international students can only participate in internships when the employer has a cooperative relationship with their school and practical training is mandatory for all students
- Universities that fail to comply risk losing their certification to enroll foreign students
- Purdue University, with over 9,000 international students, announced it will only approve CPT for internships that are mandatory degree requirements
- Trump administration officials are considering a $100,000 fee for employers who want to hire foreign graduates through the Optional Practical Training program
- Sandra Ding, a Chinese student at Berkeley, said she would not choose to study in the US if she could make the decision again under current circumstances
Why It Matters
The policy could significantly impact Hong Kong students planning to study in the US, as practical training opportunities are often a key factor in choosing American universities. The proposed $100,000 OPT fee would make it extremely difficult for most international graduates to build careers in the US after graduation, forcing them to return to Hong Kong or seek opportunities elsewhere .
The policy could significantly impact Hong Kong students planning to study in the US, as practical training opportunities are often a key factor in choosing American universities. The proposed $100,000 OPT fee would make it extremely difficult for most international graduates to build careers in the US after graduation, forcing them to return to Hong Kong or seek opportunities elsewhere .