Studying in the US in 2025: Frequently Asked Questions
Several expert teams have been helping our colleagues abroad answer questions and navigate all that has been happening in the US since President Trump took office. To compile all the resources into one guide, we’ve put together a great FAQ page which can be used by students, counselors, universities, and other professionals working in international higher education.
As an international student headed to the US, you likely have been closely following headlines about visa availability, campus life, and changing political policies. Shorelight advisors are always here to help in your study abroad journey — that’s why we’ve put together this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) covering everything that may be top of mind regarding US student visas, heading to the US, and the current campus experience.
133 Foreign Students Get Back Their Legal Status — for Now
This news is very encouraging. Having a ruling that offers protections for more than 100 students is a significant win and sign of hope for those international students who have decided to stay in the US and fight the administration’s actions. In another case, the judge has ordered the government to transfer Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student at Tufts University, from a Louisiana correctional facility to Vermont.
Judge Victoria Marie Calvert granted the plaintiffs’ request to restore their F-1 student status and work authorizations. The plaintiffs alleged that the federal government had unlawfully terminated their legal status without giving them proper notice or an opportunity to respond.
The ruling came the same day as a similar lawsuit, filed in New Hampshire, challenged the Trump administration’s mass cancellation of student visas, escalating the legal fight over the federal government’s treatment of international students.
Learn more on Higher Ed Dive >
Rubio Announces Major Cuts at State Dept., Accusing It of ‘Radical’ Ideology
The Shorelight Government Affairs team has been discussing the impacts of a hiring freeze, as well as the possibility of consular closures and staff cuts. All are included in the Secretary’s plan to reshape the department. At present, the department is looking to close several consulates in Africa, as well as other offices, going from a total of 784 to 602. We are not yet clear on what the impact will be on consular operations. We will continue to monitor this situation and update you as more information becomes clear.
The announcement on Tuesday is only the first step in an overhaul of the department. It focused on changes to operations in Washington, but the cuts will affect the work of embassies and consulates overseas. Closures of diplomatic missions and layoffs abroad are expected later, according to U.S. officials and earlier leaked memos.
Get the full story on the New York Times >
International Students Have Been a Bonanza for US Communities
This article discusses the economic benefits that international students bring to schools across the country. Additionally, international students add value to domestic students, offering insights into other cultures and countries, many of which domestic students will never see firsthand. For those of us who are advocating on behalf of students, there are some great facts in this article.
Higher education is America’s 10th-largest export, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Yes, even though students are coming into the U.S. for their education, economists consider it an export.)
Last year, U.S. colleges and universities attracted international students from 217 nations and territories, including one student from the island nation of Niue in the South Pacific. Their economic contributions added up to more than the value of U.S. telecommunications, computer and information services exports combined.
