Summer internships. Continuing their degrees. Unlike their domestic peers, international students plan the school year around fluctuating federal immigration rules targeting their education.
F-1 visas allow international students to study full-time in the United States. To participate in off-campus United States-based summer internships, F-1 international students must receive approval through Curricular Practical Training authorization.
However, an Aug. 12 memo released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated that universities providing CPT authorizations for the sole purpose of employment may risk losing their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. This certification allows institutions to enroll students on F-1 and M-1 visas for vocational or nonacademic programs.
Given the volatile state of immigration policy, UCLA must shift its system for international students from reactive to proactive.
By providing recurring information sessions on relevant policies, detailing what those policies mean and how they will impact students’ academic and professional plans, UCLA can establish a consistent way to communicate changes in immigration guidelines.
Instead, in response to recent policy changes, UCLA has paused some international students’ work authorizations.
[Related: UCLA pauses some international students’ work authorizations after ICE memo]
“This could affect not only their professional development, but also their ability to compete for jobs after graduation,” said Charbel Chehade, the Undergraduate Students Association Council International Student Representative.
UCLA’s reaction adds another layer of uncertainty to a system where international students already need to navigate a turbulent immigration policy landscape.
Talia Inlender, the deputy director of the Miñana Family Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the School of Law, said the CPT memo is a part of the federal administration’s goal to frighten international students and institutions. The memo is trying to prevent international students from seeking opportunities, she added.
By restricting CPT for international students without allowing them to understand other options, UCLA risks students altering their career plans without making a fully informed choice.
Amit Azulay, a senior associate attorney in the Sostrin Immigration Group, said she has seen students who are trying to complete their degrees be denied extensions on their visas.
When federal immigration law restricts how long students can take to finish their degree and whether they can pursue internships, UCLA must provide a support system to help students adapt and achieve their academic and professional goals.
International students already face hurdles finding entry-level employment that offers H-1B visa sponsorship, Azulay said.
Recent policies have made H-1B visas – temporary work permits – even harder to obtain. The Trump administration imposed a hefty $100,000 fee for employers sponsoring international workers, adding a financial deterrent to the international workforce.
“UCLA is communicating directly with students who have affected CPT applications and remains committed to supporting our international students as we navigate these changes,” a spokesperson for the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars said in an emailed statement.
The Dashew Center has staff supporting students who hold employment-based visas, along with F-1 scholars. But when unexpected changes emerge, international students need a wider base of support from UCLA.
International students cannot control sudden changes in immigration policy. UCLA cannot control that either. But it can control whether students navigate these changes alone.
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