As Seniors at Lindenwood head into their last semester, finishing papers, sharing their previous memories with friends, and planning what their next thing will be, for some international students, it also means something else. As of the first of January, 2026, students have been checking their email and immigration status every day to make sure they can stay in the country long enough to receive their diploma, which they have worked so hard to obtain.
Over the past year, the United States government has been increasing the revocation of student visas while also limiting how many approvals are being given out to different countries. Together, these totals have limited the access and increased the anxiety for students currently and trying to study in the United States on F-1 and J-1 visas.
According to a social media post on Instagram by the United States Department of State, more than 6,000 international student visas have been revoked in the past year. The department stated that the reason for revoking over 100,000 visas, with 8000 of them being student visas and 2,500 being specialized visas, was because these people went against their visas and had encounters with law enforcement. There was, however, a message located at the bottom of the social media post stating that “the government would continue to deport individuals it considers to be a threat to public safety.”
The State Department also told BBC News that the “vast majority” of the student visas being revoked are because they violated the United States law. Reported offenses included assault, burglary, and driving under the influence (DUI). approximately half of the student visas that were cancelled has connection to criminal cases. Other visas that have been revoked fell into a category for “supporting terrorism,” which the federal immigration law has defined broady however, the administration has targeted some campus protests, including pro-Palestinian demonstrations, arguing that the activity was disruptive or antisemitic.
The traditional status violations can also cause one’s visa to be revoked, including dropping a full course load, overstaying a visa, working without authorization, or having any criminal occurrence. These factors can lead to a student’s status being terminated. When this happens, a student’s record in SEVIS, a federal system that keeps track of international students, is cancelled. If a student does not have an active SEVIS record, then the student can immediately lose their legal right to stay in the U.S.
New restrictions and federal policies have also made it harder for some students to even be able to obtain a visa in the first place. The State Department has also made the announcement effective January 1, 2026, that under the Presidential Proclamation 10998, visa issuance has been fully or partially suspended from 38 different countries. 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, etc., are fully barred from new visas, while another 19 countries, such as Nigeria, Cuba, Venezuela, etc., are facing partial suspensions on F, M, and J exchange and student visas. According to the department, the policy was put into effect with the intent to use “rigorous, security-focused screening and vetting procedures that will ensure an individual is fully approved for a visa and does not endanger the national or public security.
Students who have already received or currently hold a valid visa will not have their visa automatically revoked; however, under the proclamation, those who leave the country may struggle to get a new visa to return, which can make traveling home risky as graduation approaches. The consequences can be immediate and disruptive. Students who lose their status can also lose their access to classes, campus buildings, research labs, campus housing, teaching, or graduate assistant jobs. For many students who will be graduating in the spring, this means their years of work could be left short. After speaking with various international students at Lindenwood University, most of them all responded with similar insights, It’s scary, I am supposed to be excited for graduation, but I constantly have this fear in the back of my head,” said an international student from Canada. Another student from Europe states that “I have worked hard to be accepted to Lindenwood, and the idea that I could lose my visa just a few months away from graduation, because it means all the work that has already been put in would be for nothing.”
According to Open Door data cited by BBC News, more than a million students from over 210 different countries were enrolled in different colleges across the United States in the 2023-24 school year. Action is required quickly if one’s status becomes affected by reaching out to their school’s DSO (Designated School Official). Immigration advisors recommend that students connect with their DSO to ensure their SEVIS record and to check if there has been any government notice given to the university. Students are also able to take matters into their own hands by contacting an immigration attorney, as some have successfully been able to challenge the terminations and apply for reinstatement. If ever approached, students have the right to remain silent and request a lawyer if approached by someone who is a part of immigration authorities.
Although this topic, for many international students, adds uncertainty for what should be an exciting milestone in their academic career, instead of focusing on only graduation celebrations, some are worried about whether or not they are able to stay long enough to walk across the stage. Students who came to the United States simply to study and build a future are feeling uncertain and overwhelmed by the United States government’s recent actions.
