The US government has begun revoking foreign student visas without prior notice or explanation, according to reports from universities. The sudden terminations, carried out through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks international students, are forcing affected students to leave the US immediately, leaving many in legal limbo, the Economic Times reported.
Universities across the country are reporting a spike in abrupt SEVIS record cancellations. In most cases, institutions only learn of the revocation when students receive alarming emails indicating their SEVIS status has been terminated. As per the ET report, administrators claimed that no formal communication or justification is being provided by federal authorities, raising serious concerns about transparency and due process.
A social media post by user “Deddy” on X revealed that international student enrollment dropped by 5% in August 2024 alone, largely driven by an exodus of approximately 90,000 Indian Master’s students. The user claimed this shift could amount to a $5 billion annual loss in tuition revenue for US institutions.
The consequences of the policy are already being felt. Minnesota State University, Mankato reported five international students had their visas revoked under unclear circumstances. The discovery came during an audit prompted by the detention of a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota, whose visa revocation was linked to a prior drunk driving conviction, the ET report stated.