The proclamation argues that the H-1B visa program, originally intended to fill gaps with highly skilled foreign workers, has been widely abused by companies—especially in IT—to replace American workers with cheaper labor. This practice has suppressed wages, worsened unemployment among U.S. tech graduates, and forced laid-off Americans to train their replacements. The misuse of H-1B visas is framed as both an economic and national security threat.
DHS proposes ending F-1 "Duration of Status" admissions. Students would get fixed 4-year periods instead of staying while maintaining status. Extensions require costly USCIS applications. PhD students and longer programs face new hurdles.
Starting September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will implement a new policy requiring all student visa applicants to schedule interviews only in their country of residence or nationality. This marks a major shift from the previous system, which allowed students to interview at U.S. consulates in third countries with shorter wait times and more convenient scheduling.