The Trump administration is tightening regulations regarding Internships and work authorizations for foreign students in the US. New guidelines have been issued to universities on this matter. Failure to comply with these directives could result in a university losing its certification to enroll foreign students.
This warning was issued in a memorandum dated August 24.
The memo was sent by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which operates under US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The memo notes that there has been an “alarming” increase in the number of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations. However, under existing rules, CPT is intended to be approved only when it is an integral part of the academic curriculum.
The guidelines further state that failure to adhere to SEVP regulations could lead to an educational institution losing its certification to enroll foreign students.
Impact on Top Universities
Following the issuance of the new guidelines, several top US universities have suspended applications for work authorization for international students in certain categories.
Universities such as the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Berkeley, have taken this step.
A UCLA spokesperson stated that the university has suspended approvals for certain types of Curricular Practical Training pending a review of the recent government guidelines and a determination of the next course of action.
Berkeley’s international office has also advised students to plan ahead, noting that approvals for specific types of work for international students will be restricted in the “near future.”
However, CPT that is mandatory for degree completion will continue to be approved as before. Similarly, the approval process for CPT related to doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research will remain unchanged.
“No New Changes Made”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—the parent agency of ICE—has provided clarification regarding the guidelines.
In a statement, the agency said that no new changes have been made to the regulations; however, universities and employers have been cautioned. The statement says that the abuse of this liberal system under President Trump will no longer be tolerated.
As a result of the new guidelines, universities will have to adhere to regulations more strictly regarding the approval of internships and work authorization for foreign students studying in the United States.
