US threatens to cancel Visas for Foreign Students if they miss classes

Amid a crackdown on foreign nationals by President Donald Trump’s administration, the Authority on Tuesday issued a fresh advisory targeting international students, including those from South Asia. The warning has added to the growing anxiety among thousands of foreign students whose academic and immigration status now hangs in the balance.

According to the latest guidelines, students who will be found skipping classes or leaving their academic programs without officially informing their institutes may face serious consequences, including immediate visa cancellation and disqualification from applying for any future US visa.

Earlier this month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) threatened international students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas in the US, mentioning that if they fail to report their employment within 90 days of starting their OPT, their legal status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) would be revoked.

Amid the mass deportation drive ordered by President Donald Trump, several institutes in the country also warned foreign students against travelling outside of the US in order to eliminate the risk of visa cancellation.

Additionally, the US Embassy in India issued a warning for Indian immigrants earlier this month, cautioning them about deportation. “If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States in the future," the US Embassy in India tweeted.

Recently, Trump announced to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students. Earlier on May 22, the White House stated, “Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right."