Thread: Bummer: International Students Reconsidering Staying In The US After Graduation

Bummer: International Students Reconsidering Staying In The US After Graduation

By William Teach October 26, 2026 – 10:30 am

Really, the purpose of a visa is you do your thing, be it work or school, and then leave when it is over. You aren’t just supposed to stick around and stick around and stick around, then bring your whole family over

International students weigh futures in US amid Trump’s visa, immigration crackdown
International students at GW said they are reconsidering whether to remain in the United States after graduation or pursue educational and career opportunities abroad as President Donald Trump continues to tighten immigration policies.
Students said uncertainty surrounding post-graduation work authorization and stricter visa requirements have prompted them to rethink plans to build careers in the United States, pursue graduate degrees abroad or finish their undergraduate degrees at GW. The hesitation comes as GW faces declining international student enrollment in the wake of Trump’s continued visa and immigration restrictions, including a new policy threatening international students’ employment opportunities.
Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has made it more difficult for international students to study in the United States by enacting policies like a travel ban impacting international student applications from 38 countries and Department of Homeland Security rules shortening the time frame that international students can stay in the United States for their education.

This is the way it is supposed to be. They don’t just get to decide on their own that the US is going to let them stay to build their careers. You graduate and then you return to your home country (or another country) and then re-apply for a visa. Which shouldn’t be a career. It should be a time period for said visa and then you leave. What the US has been doing though is constantly approving extension after extension for visas. And, yes, then they bring over the rest of their families, and demand voting rights, free stuff, and citizenship.
This is how you get problems like Mahmoud Khalil, who came over with a student visa, immediately started being an anti-Israel/Jew protester at Columbia, graduated, but, never left, and the leftist judges just let him stay.

This month, the Trump administration proposed a rule requiring universities to pay a $70,000 fee for each student’s initial application to the optional practice training program, which allows students to work in jobs in their field during or after their studies. The fee is in addition to last year’s proposed $100,000 fee employers would have to pay for each new H-1B visa, which federal courts struck down in October.

Yeah, that’s not going to fly, either. Maybe there should be some sort of deposit, depending on a student’s income status, that would be void if they refuse to leave when their visa is over. Plus, I’ve always maintained that the schools and companies that host legal aliens on visas should be held responsible for over-stays.

The Hatchet spoke to five international students, all of whom requested anonymity over fears their visa could be at risk or of deportation. All five described uncertainty about their futures in the United States, with some considering graduate school or employment abroad and others questioning whether GW had adequately supported them through changes to immigration policies.

They aren’t supposed to have futures, unless they go through the whole citizenship process, if approved to try it.

University President Ellen Granberg said during a September Faculty Senate meeting that GW enrolled nearly 1,000 fewer international students this year — a number she said she anticipates to continue declining over the coming years. Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success Jay Goff told the Faculty Senate in December that GW enrolled 392 fewer international students in fall 2025 than in 2024, which came after he said in August 2025 the University could face a $10 million decrease in revenue because of declining international student enrollment.

And that’s why schools do not like Trump’s rules: money. They can get a lot more out of international students than Americans. Meaning lots of Americans, including those in-state, are not considered. Skipping all the way to the last paragraph

“For decades, this experiential education program has served as a critical pipeline of international talent for the U.S. economy—especially in STEM fields where there is a worker shortage—and as an essential component of a U.S. higher education for international students,” Stewart said in an email.

But, let’s be honest: a goodly chunk of these foreign students are doing STEM, while so many of today’s Yutes are getting degrees in things that end with Studies, or might as well end with Studies, which are virtually worthless.

Bummer: International Students Reconsidering Staying In The US After Graduation » Pirate's Cove

International students weigh futures in US amid Trump’s visa, immigration crackdown

By Diya Jhawar and Isabel Rainey

October 26, 2026




Carsten Holst | Assistant Photo Editor
The Office for Study Abroad is located at 2127 G St. NW.
Updated: Oct. 26, 2026 at 7:40 p.m.

International students at GW said they are reconsidering whether to remain in the United States after graduation or pursue educational and career opportunities abroad as President Donald Trump continues to tighten immigration policies.
Students said uncertainty surrounding post-graduation work authorization and stricter visa requirements have prompted them to rethink plans to build careers in the United States, pursue graduate degrees abroad or finish their undergraduate degrees at GW. The hesitation comes as GW faces declining international student enrollment in the wake of Trump’s continued visa and immigration restrictions, including a new policy threatening international students’ employment opportunities.
Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has made it more difficult for international students to study in the United States by enacting policies like a travel ban impacting international student applications from 38 countries and Department of Homeland Security rules shortening the time frame that international students can stay in the United States for their education.
This month, the Trump administration proposed a rule requiring universities to pay a $70,000 fee for each student’s initial application to the optional practice training program, which allows students to work in jobs in their field during or after their studies. The fee is in addition to last year’s proposed $100,000 fee employers would have to pay for each new H-1B visa, which federal courts struck down in October.
GW officials on the University’s federal policy updates page said GW plans to submit comments opposing the proposed OPT fees.
The Hatchet spoke to five international students, all of whom requested anonymity over fears their visa could be at risk or of deportation. All five described uncertainty about their futures in the United States, with some considering graduate school or employment abroad and others questioning whether GW had adequately supported them through changes to immigration policies.
One junior international student said frequent changes to immigration policy under the Trump administration have made it difficult for international students to understand which rules apply to them and how their plans may be affected, forcing students to be “on top of your game” to stay informed about developments that could affect their ability to work in the United States.
“I think this is the most uncertain time to be an international student because there’s new rules every two weeks, and some of the rules are being implemented, and after that they are being challenged in the court,” they said.
The student said the uncertainty has prompted several of their close friends at GW to reconsider their plans to remain in the United States after graduation, with some considering transferring to universities in other countries to complete their undergraduate studies rather than stay at GW.
“Everyone is just asking for a fair shot,” they said. “That’s pretty much it. I just hope that the situation improves in the coming few years. Maybe, if not for my batch, the batch after me, so that America is again the dream for everyone, and the American dream is true for everyone.”
The student said international student applications could decrease further as a result of new policies, adding to financial pressures at GW, which financially benefits from international students, who often pay full tuition.
University President Ellen Granberg said during a September Faculty Senate meeting that GW enrolled nearly 1,000 fewer international students this year — a number she said she anticipates to continue declining over the coming years. Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success Jay Goff told the Faculty Senate in December that GW enrolled 392 fewer international students in fall 2025 than in 2024, which came after he said in August 2025 the University could face a $10 million decrease in revenue because of declining international student enrollment.
Goff attributed the decline to the Trump administration’s federal visa policy changes and immigration rules, stating visa delays affected both new and continuing international students.
“If international student enrollment declines, domestic students won’t be able to study at GW because of the scholarships and the aid you get. That’s usually the international money,” the student said.
A sophomore international student said they are worried that international students are slowly losing their freedoms in the United States, describing an interaction with an immigration officer at an airport who told them to be “really careful” and avoid doing “anything stupid.”
“Those were his words, and that made me even more afraid because I feel like I can’t really do anything,” they said. “Even if I’m not doing anything wrong, I still feel like I’m doing something wrong.”
The student said they are considering moving to other countries for graduate school because of the Trump administration’s tightening of student visa and immigration policies. They said they hold Portuguese citizenship and see practical advantages to studying in Europe, including lower costs.
“I don’t want to live my life in a place where I just feel scared all the time,” the student said.
Dia Makhecha, co-director for the Student Government Association’s International Students Office said the office has focused on making career and post-graduate resources more visible and accessible amid changing federal immigration policies.
She said the office aims to connect international students with existing University advising and career resources, including Career Connect, and encourage administrators to develop additional support so students know where to turn to when they have questions.
“In particular, our goal is to make sure students are not left wondering where to go for support, especially as federal policy changes continue to create uncertainty around post-graduate employment and visa pathways,” Makhecha said in an email.
Another sophomore international student said they had originally planned to use OPT to work in the United States after graduation before eventually moving to Turkey or Europe, but recent immigration policy developments surrounding OPT and Curricular Practical Training — a program which allows F-1 visa-holding students to engage in off-campus employment, internships, externships, practicum or co-op — have made it harder to plan for their future in the United States.
Following guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program — an office run by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement — which called for universities to “carefully review” CPT requests to ensure CPT is only authorized when the program is “truly integral” to the completion of a student’s degree, the University paused approvals CPT requests September unless the internship is required for every student in their degree program.
“Originally, I was thinking of maybe using my OPT, staying for a couple of years, maybe a couple more, getting my master’s degree as well, and then, as an end plan, heading back to Turkey or Europe, where I’m going to be staying to find a stable life, and I think that is still the plan mostly,” they said. “But it has gotten a bit harder to do such a thing.”
The student said many international students they know feel increased pressure to perform well academically and stand out to employers, as they must secure sponsorship from employers who may face additional costs associated with work visa fees.
“So, especially my friends, I’ve been seeing them talking about their GPA and how they should be worth a million dollars at the end of the semester because if you’re going to be applying for a company, that’s kind of who you have to be,” they said.
University spokesperson Katelyn Deckelbaum said GW’s International Student Office provides international students with immigration guidance through its website, email communications, newsletters, social media and advising appointments. She said students can meet with advisors to discuss immigration regulations and work authorization options.
“I think this is a multi pronged conversation that happens with a student’s academic advisor, the career center, and ISO, and the student’s family and their personal ambitions and long term plans and goals,” Deckelbaum said. “It is unique to each individual.”
A sophomore international student said they felt GW did not adequately advocate for international students after changes to federal guidance on CPT, preventing them from pursuing internship opportunities in the United States.
They said they received internship offers but were unable to pursue them due to the pause on approvals for CPT. They said GW’s response contrasted those from universities like Georgetown University, which they heard from a friend had initially continued approving some internship applications despite federal changes to CPT rules.
“It sucks because if I was in another university, I could have probably got those internships approved because my university would have been fighting for me, whereas GW hasn’t,” they said.
Erica Stewart, senior director for advocacy and strategic communications at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a non-profit dedicated to international education and exchange, said access to post-graduation employment is an important consideration for international students deciding where to pursue higher education in the United States.
Stewart said the proposed fee could affect OPT’s role in helping international students transition from American universities into the U.S. workforce and said she questions whether students will be able to gain U.S. work experience after investing in an American degree.
“For decades, this experiential education program has served as a critical pipeline of international talent for the U.S. economy—especially in STEM fields where there is a worker shortage—and as an essential component of a U.S. higher education for international students,” Stewart said in an email.
This post has been updated to correct the following:
An earlier version of this post used an outdated name for NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The post has been updated with the non-profit’s current name. The Hatchet regrets this error.

International students weigh futures in US amid Trump’s visa, immigration crackdown – The GW Hatchet