US tightens internship pathways for international students

The door to the US job market is narrowing as the country prohibits international students from internships if their academic programs do not require them.

Earlier this week, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent a memo to universities, outlining regulations for approving Curricular Practical Training (CPT). This program allows F-1 visa students to undertake off-campus internships, primarily during the summer, to gain experience before graduation.

Specifically, students are only permitted to intern if the employer has a cooperative agreement with the university and if the internship is a mandatory requirement of their academic program. Universities failing to comply "may have their authorization to admit international students revoked".

Following this directive, many universities, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Southern California, Dartmouth, and Washington, have announced on their websites that they will temporarily suspend CPT for programs not requiring internships, or are reviewing their policies.

According to The Washington Post, this is the latest move by the US government to curb "rampant abuse of the student visa system". This policy also aims to prevent international students from accessing jobs that could otherwise go to local graduates.

"Schools and employers should understand that under President Trump, abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated," a DHS spokesperson stated.

Immediately, representatives from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expressed concern.

"Depriving students of internship learning opportunities could make them reconsider their plans to study in the US. They understand very well how much employers value practical experience related to their field of study," said Ivor Emmanuel, Director of the UC Berkeley International Office.

Sandra Ding, a student from Trung Quoc studying at UC Berkeley, noted that the new regulation has caused confusion among international students. Summer jobs are a crucial stepping stone into the job market and a primary reason many choose to come to the US.

Last month, the US government imposed a four-year cap on the length of stay for international students, creating procedural and time obstacles, especially for doctoral research students.

Officials are also finalizing regulations that would require businesses to pay a fee of 100,000 USD if they wish to hire newly graduated international students under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. This fee would compel most international students to leave the US immediately after graduation instead of staying to build their careers.

According to a report from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the number of international students enrolling in the US last fall decreased by 17%. Nearly 60% of US universities reported a decline in applications from abroad, according to a rapid assessment conducted by the organization this spring.