US Tightens Internship Work Rules for International Students
Synopsis
The Trump administration is restricting certain internship work authorizations under CPT rules, while universities face penalties for failing to comply.
International student internships in the US are under review as the Trump administration takes measures to advise universities on which work authorization to approve to students.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) regulations allow qualified F-1 students to participate in internships and other forms of training relevant to their field of study. According to a federal memo issued on August 24, federal officials responded to increases in the number of CPT approvals that do not appear to be consistent with immigration policies requiring such training to be integral to a degree program.
Universities Review CPT Applications
UCLA has halted some CPT authorizations for the time being while the university reviews the new guidelines. UC Berkeley, on the other hand, will continue to process CPT for completing degrees, as well as dissertation and thesis research for master’s degree programs. Other requests for authorization may be processed at a later date when the university has developed procedures for implementing the new requirements.
The fundamental aspects of CPT have remained the same, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Nevertheless, the department warned that universities and employers could be subjected to increased scrutiny while those that do not follow SVP mandates may find themselves prohibited from hosting international students.
International Student Market Remains Large
According to the Open Doors 2025 Report on International Exchange, a total of 1,177,766 international students studied in the US during the 2024-25 academic year, an increase of five percent over the previous year.
The largest groups of Indian students came from China (265,919), Malaysia (257,735), and India (363,019). Other top sending countries included South Korea, Canada, and Vietnam, among others, with twelve (12) of the top twenty-five (25) countries recording new highs.
The report also shows that a total of 294,253 international students were enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT) in 2024-25 compared to 243,122 in 2023-24, an increase of twenty-one percent (21%). In terms of economic impact, NAFSA estimates that international students contributed $42.9 billion to the US economy while creating 355,736 jobs during the 2024 academic year.
According to the new NAFSA-JB International Fall 2026 analysis, fewer international students would have a negative impact on the US economy, with a reduction of $3.4 billion and nearly 40,000 jobs.
Source: Reuters
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
