Key Takeaways
• USCIS clarified green card applications do not automatically end F-1 or M-1 student status as of April 2025.
• International students with STEM degrees can pursue start-up employment under STEM OPT, provided employers meet strict requirements.
• New guidance mandates only “male” or “female” gender markers on student immigration forms after April 2, 2025.
The policies for international students in the United States 🇺🇸 have seen several updates, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) leading new changes that affect everything from student visa rules to work options after graduation. These updates, as of April 2025, focus on key topics for F-1 academic visa holders, M-1 vocational visa holders, and the professionals known as Designated School Officials (DSOs) who support them.
Let’s break down these changes, focusing on what they really mean for students, their families, and the schools involved.
What’s New for International Students in April 2025?
USCIS has made things clearer for F-1 and M-1 visa holders by:
– Preparing new guidance documents that organize all main student visa rules in one place.
– Explaining that students who apply for a green card are not automatically kicked out of student status.
– Allowing students with science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) degrees to take jobs with start-ups, as long as the companies follow special requirements.
– Pointing out that though new executive orders have changed the larger immigration picture since January 2025, the core rules for F and M students remain the same.
Why Are These Changes Important?
Many international students worry about losing their status if they try to get a green card or work after they graduate. There was a lot of confusion before, but now the rules are easier to understand. The main goal is to help students focus on their education, trust their DSOs, and plan their futures with more confidence.
The Intent-to-Depart Rule: What Does It Mean Today?
Background:
In the past, students needed to convince officials they really planned to leave the United States 🇺🇸 after they finished school. This often left them feeling nervous—especially if they thought about finding an employer to sponsor them for a green card.
Current USCIS Guidance:
Now, USCIS says:
“The foreign residence requirement should be decided differently for students than for other visa holders… Decisions should focus on the student’s plan right now, not what they might do in many years.”
What This Means:
– A student can have a green card application in progress and not lose their F-1 or M-1 status just because of that.
– The important factor is whether a student plans to leave the U.S. 🇺🇸 when they finish their studies—not whether they might want to stay in the future.
– Consular officers, the people who make decisions on visa applications, must look at each case separately. Strong signs that a student only wants to stay forever could still cause a problem, but simply applying for a green card is not enough to deny student status.
Why This Matters for You:
If you want to use Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT after graduation, you can plan for this without being so afraid that it could cause problems with your student status—unless you show you have no plans to ever leave when your studies end.
STEM OPT: Can Start-Ups Employ International Graduates?
In the Past:
There was a lot of doubt about whether small, new companies—or start-ups—could offer jobs to graduates who wanted to extend their OPT program by two years under STEM OPT. Many people thought only bigger, older companies were allowed.
USCIS’s 2025 Clarification:
USCIS now says:
“There is no rule saying a start-up cannot hire a STEM OPT student. But the company must prove it can follow the training plan, comply with all rules, and pay the student a fair wage compared to what U.S. workers get.”
Requirements for the Start-Up:
– Sign up with and follow the rules for E-Verify (a system used to prove someone can legally work in the U.S. 🇺🇸).
– Use Form I-983 (the official training plan form) and stick to a clear learning path for the student.
– Pay the student as much as they would pay an American doing the same job.
Impact:
This change opens the door for more international graduates in science, engineering, technology, or math to take jobs in smaller companies—including start-ups—if the company can follow all the requirements.
What Are the Main Eligibility Rules for F-1 and M-1 Visas?
The 2025 policy guidance makes these basic rules clearer:
- Student status: You must really be a full-time student.
- Study purpose: Your main goal for coming to the U.S. 🇺🇸 is to go to a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
- Home residence: You must have a home or permanent address outside the U.S. 🇺🇸 that you do not plan to give up.
- Financial proof: You must show enough money to pay for tuition and living costs, using things like bank letters, sponsor information, or work offers.
None of these rules are new, but the way they are explained now is simpler and easier to understand. Students must meet all these requirements when applying and whenever they want to renew or extend their visa.
Financial Proof Standards: What Documents Do You Need?
Students must prove they have enough money to cover both tuition and their living expenses for the entire time they’ll study, not just for the first year.
Accepted Proof Includes:
– Official bank statements from your or your sponsor’s bank.
– Letters or written promises (affidavits) from people who will pay for you.
– Letters confirming you have a scholarship, fellowship, or grant.
– Letters from an employer showing how much you will earn.
You can’t use money from government grants if those grants are only for adult education programs. It is important to have these documents both when you first apply and if you try to extend your stay or get reinstated after a problem.
Which Schools or Programs Can Accept International Students?
- F-1 visas are for regular academic schools, from some high schools through college, seminaries, and conservatories.
- F-1 visas are not for public elementary or middle schools, most adult education funded by government grants, or for any school that’s not approved by SEVP.
- M-1 visas are for vocational programs (like training for specific jobs) but never for language programs.
If you’re not sure whether a program is eligible, your DSO can explain. This helps students avoid applying to schools that cannot legally accept international students.
The DSO’s Role: Now More Important Than Ever
Designated School Officials (DSOs) are the people on campus who link you to the government. In this time of tightening rules and more paperwork, DSOs have a bigger role than before.
DSOs help with:
– Getting your first I-20 form and registering you with the government’s SEVIS system.
– Guiding you if you need to take a lighter course load for reasons like illness.
– Making sure you follow all work rules, both on and off campus, especially for programs like OPT and STEM OPT.
– Helping with school transfers or solving problems if you drop below full-time or lose status.
Because the rules can change, it’s smart to build a good relationship with your DSO. Ask questions right away if you want to work, travel, or make any change that could affect your status.
New Executive Orders and Immigration in 2025: What Should You Know?
After January 2025, President Trump’s administration issued new executive orders focusing on how people come to the U.S. 🇺🇸, asylum, and border control. The F and M student visa programs have not yet changed directly. But:
Legal experts say there may be “stricter scrutiny” when students apply for visas or try to re-enter the country, even if the rules have not been rewritten.
This means you should:
– Keep up with any alerts or emails from your school’s international office.
– Prepare extra proof that you still meet all the rules, especially when crossing the border or renewing your visa.
Change in Gender Marker Policy (April 2, 2025): What’s Different?
As of April 2, 2025, USCIS now follows a stricter rule for how it lists gender on all forms linked to F and M visas.
From this date, only the “male” or “female” options are recognized. If a birth certificate says something else, or if the gender isn’t clear, the government will look at other evidence to decide which gender marker to use.
If you’re affected by this rule change, talk to your DSO early and check your identity documents before starting any applications.
Table: Main Differences After the 2025 Updates
| Policy Area | Old Rule | New USCIS Rule (April 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Intent-to-depart | Very strict, based on future | Focus is on your current intention to leave at end of study |
| Green card applications | Could threaten student status | Allowed—no automatic loss of status |
| STEM OPT at start-ups | Unclear if allowed | Clearly allowed if requirements are met |
| Gender marker on forms | Some flexibility | Only “male” or “female” are accepted |
What Should Students and Advisors Do Now?
To stay in good standing and make the most out of your time in the United States 🇺🇸:
– Stay in regular touch with your DSO, letting them know about your plans for travel, work, or sponsor applications.
– Gather and save strong financial documents before your application or interview.
– Help your employer understand the STEM OPT rules, especially if they are a new or small business.
– Watch for updates from your school about possible impacts due to higher-level executive actions.
– Check and fix any identity documents that might be a problem under the new gender marker rule.
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean for You?
The newest USCIS rules finally clear up long-standing confusion over what’s allowed for international students, especially when it comes to combining study with work or green card applications. Even though there may be more security checks at the border or during visa applications, the heart of the F-1 and M-1 visa programs stays strong.
International students can now pursue work experiences at both big companies and start-ups, with clear standards in place. Meanwhile, DSOs are even more central to each student’s journey—guiding everything from paperwork to emergencies.
For more detailed information on staying in status, filing forms, and finding official updates, always check the USCIS Students and Exchange Visitors page.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these changes are part of a larger move to help international students plan for both their studies and their careers without getting caught by surprises in shifting government policy.
In the coming months and years, as the United States 🇺🇸 responds to global and domestic pressures, international students should remain ready to adjust to new guidance. By knowing the current rules, staying prepared, and relying on trusted people like their DSOs, students can keep their focus on learning and career growth.
Remember: This article provides general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules are always changing, and each person’s case is different. For help with your specific situation, talk to your DSO or a licensed immigration attorney.
Learn Today
USCIS → U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; the federal agency responsible for immigration, including student visa processing and policy updates.
Designated School Official (DSO) → An authorized school employee who advises international students and manages SEVIS records for F-1 and M-1 visas.
STEM OPT → A 24-month extension of post-graduation work authorization for international students with science, technology, engineering, or math degrees.
SEVP → Student and Exchange Visitor Program; government initiative certifying schools to enroll international students on F or M visas.
Intent-to-depart rule → A requirement for student visa applicants to prove they intend to leave the U.S. after finishing their studies.
This Article in a Nutshell
Major changes for international students in 2025 streamline visa policies. Green card applicants retain student status. STEM graduates may work at start-ups if employers comply. Financial proof and gender documentation rules are clearer. Designated School Officials now play an even larger role in guidance, documentation, and ensuring students follow immigration laws.
— By VisaVerge.com
