Three months into the new year might be giving way to something else: uncertainty. This is particularly true for graduating international students at higher education institutions like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The pace and volatility of changes to the Trump administration’s immigration policy may be at the center of much of this anxiety.
Even before the recent operations of the Trump administration, international students had to prove that they sought to enter the U.S. temporarily, only to pursue a single degree. The current law does not permit individuals to communicate an interest in legally staying in the U.S. to build their career after completing their degree.
There is an Optional Practical Training that allows for temporary employment in fields related to a student’s major. But although the program appears to provide international students some reprieve in the form of professional development opportunities, the Trump administration continues to make changes.
On May 21, 2025, during his confirmation hearing for the position of the director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow said that he wanted the administration to be allowed to remove employment authorizations as soon as a student is out of school.
In previous years, the OPT program played a key role in bridging academic studies and long-term career employment for international students in the U.S. It provides international students a 12-36 month extension on their visas to gain hands-on experience in their field of study to secure employer sponsorship for the H-1B work visa. Previously, this has been viewed as a mutually beneficial opportunity for students and the U.S., as international graduates can contribute to the U.S. economy instead of taking their skills to global competitors.
The last few years, however, have witnessed a dramatic shift in political rhetoric. The OPT program is being re-narrativized as evidence of the U.S. outsourcing employment to immigrants “at the direct expense of young American workers and students,” as stated in Republican senator Eric Schmitt’s request for the re-evaluation of OPT in Nov. 2025.
In an internal letter to Schmitt, dated Jan. 9, 2026, then-Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wrote, “We are aware of the significant increase in the number of foreign student visa holders engaged in practical training programs and the potential risks and challenges.” She added that the DHS was committed to protecting the interests of “U.S. workers.”
This shift has trickled down to recruitment practices among U.S. employers. Recent changes aside, the process of securing an H-1B visa has become increasingly challenging, which has adversely affected the likelihood of securing employer sponsorship and employment.
Until now, the H-1B visa has been authorized on a lottery basis to ensure impartiality in the authorization of work visas. The lottery has an advanced degree exemption cap reserved for applicants with a master’s degree or a higher-level degree earned from an accredited U.S. educational institution. First, the USCIS selected applicants with advanced degrees to meet the 20,000 advanced degree exemption cap. Any applicants who have not been selected from this pool were placed in the general cap lottery with 65,000 additional slots.
In recent years, even with these systems in place, the odds of succeeding at the lottery have been around 30%. Additional confusion stirred up by the administration’s decision to levy a one-time $100,000 filing fee for new H-1B visas may lead U.S. employers to be reticent to hire international graduates.
A survey conducted by F newsmagazine found that most international students at SAIC share similar concerns about the unwillingness of U.S. employers to hire international graduates. Some appear to also be concerned about the increased government scrutiny and surveillance of the international student community.
Nehir Uslu (BFA 2026) plans to pursue a career in social work, community mental health, advocacy, and community engagement, but they’re wary.
“I sometimes feel uncertain about how publicly engaging in social justice or community advocacy spaces might be perceived and whether it could have unintended implications for my visa or immigration status,” said Uslu.
In August 2025, DHS proposed a rule to end “Duration of Status” for some visa holders. The D/S policy, which has been in place for nearly 30 years, allows international students and exchange visitors to see their studies and projects through to completion, without needing to file for an extension of status with the federal government. However, the new rule proposes that the current D/S policy be replaced with “a defined period of stay of no more than four years, in addition to a short grace period.” Individuals who wish to remain in the U.S. beyond that defined period would be required to apply to the USCIS for an extension of status. The proposed rule also introduces new requirements, like restrictions on changes in major or level of study. The administration said they want to put this proposition into effect by March 2026. As of March 28, 2p26, the proposed rule change still remains under review.
Sisel Gelman (MFAW 2025), a recent international graduate of SAIC, is currently on OPT and hoping to transfer their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System information to a new master’s degree in May 2026. This new rule would mean they would become ineligible to transfer into a same-level degree without leaving the country and applying for a new visa.
Gelman said, “This takes time and money, and it makes my future uncertain. No one knows when this new law will go into effect or how it will be worded.”
Uncertainty appears to be a concern shared by most in the international student community at SAIC, as corroborated by Katharine Schutta, Director of Career and Professional Experience, who confirmed that similar sentiments have been expressed more broadly. Schutta noted that a key challenge is that some employers are unable to sponsor students for H-1B visas and may be hesitant to hire international students on OPT due to its limited duration. However, she added that other employers are open to hiring international students for temporary roles or contract work, and that those who complete internships often go on to secure positions with the same organizations after graduation.
“Getting a job takes time, and international students unfortunately don’t have that luxury. That’s why it’s important to start thinking about your career early, develop connections, and work with the advisors in CAPX to take advantage of our workshops, panels, portfolio events, and career fairs,” said Schutta.
