Should International Students Still Bet on the U.S. in 2026? (Study Abroad & U.S. College Admissions Reality)

Should International Students Still Bet on the U.S.?

Parents are asking: Is the American dream closing its doors to international students? Because the news reports that the U.S. is tightening student-visa rules again, interviews are delayed, and rumors of deportations are running amuck on WhatsApp.

In this breakdown, I’ll explain what’s actually happening, how dependent the U.S. university system still is on international students, why there’s still reason for hope, and what you should be doing right now to stay ahead in U.S. college admissions.

Let’s break down the seven biggest misconceptions fueling anxiety about study abroad in the USA.

I’m Tina Chulet, and on this channel — BlueSkies — I break down the real strategy behind getting into elite U.S. colleges.

So let’s get into those myths.

Section: The 7 Myths & Truths About U.S. Student Visas

MYTH 1: “After graduation, international students can’t stay in the U.S. anymore.”

That is false.

You absolutely can stay in the U.S. after graduation, even if you are an international student.

When you finish your degree on an F-1 visa, you’re eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) — which gives you 12 months of work authorization in your field. If you studied a STEM major — Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math — you can extend it another 24 months.

That’s up to three full years of legal work time in the U.S. under your student visa. That alone should be the biggest clue that the U.S. is not pushing students out.

Nothing about that has changed.

MYTH 2: “International students are being deported en masse. Visas are getting canceled overnight.”

False.

Actual deportations of legitimate, full-time F-1 or J-1 students are extremely rare.

Most scary headlines trace back to three real issues:

1. Fraudulent documents from fake “consultants.”

2. Status lapse — dropping below full-time or not following SEVIS rules.

3. Criminal or national-security matters unrelated to academics.

   
   

Rejections like these have always occurred — but recent headlines are incorrectly framing them as a result of Trump-era U.S. visa policies.

For verified students in good standing, there is no mass-deportation wave. The viral panic is mostly fear-mongering. So always double-check the source before believing a headline and go deep into understanding the true reason for deportation.

MYTH 3: “If a company like Microsoft hires me after graduation, I have to pay $100,000 for an H-1B visa.”

TRUTH:

That’s not true. The new $100,000 H-1B fee announced by the Trump administration only applies to new H-1B applications filed on or after September 21, 2025.

It affects only people outside the U.S. who are applying for an H-1B visa for the first time.

It doesn’t apply to most students already in the U.S. on OPT or STEM-OPT who switch to H-1B without leaving the country.

Here’s what actually happens in real life:• You graduate and start working on OPT.• If your company wants to keep you longer, they file an H-1B Change-of-Status petition while you’re still inside the U.S.• When it’s approved, your status simply switches from F-1 to H-1B.• No $100K fee. You don’t pay it — and your employer doesn’t either.

The fee only applies if you leave the U.S. and the company is trying to bring you back on a new H-1B from abroad.

MYTH 4: “All work visas are frozen — companies can’t hire internationals anymore.”

False. That’s an exaggeration.

The H-1B program is still active. Employers are frustrated by new costs and processing delays, but thousands of petitions are still being filed.

Tech companies — including top H-1B sponsors — are publicly stating that they will continue to hire international STEM talent as part of long-term innovation strategy.

MYTH 5: “If I leave the U.S. after graduation, I lose everything.”

False. You don’t lose everything — but you do lose flexibility.

If you leave during OPT and later want to return, your employer would have to file a new petition under the new rule — and that’s where the $100K issue could appear.

If your goal is to work in the U.S., it’s smarter to start your job on OPT while inside the country and stay in valid status while your employer files your H-1B.

MYTH 6: “Trump has banned many Middle Eastern students — people from certain countries cannot newly study or work in the U.S.”

True — but incomplete.

In June 2025, a presidential proclamation temporarily restricted entry for citizens of 12 countries — mostly in Africa and the Middle East — and added partial restrictions for 7 more.

The full-ban countries included: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.

But the key detail most people miss:

• These are broad national-security bans, not targeted student-visa bans.

• They apply mostly to new visa issuances from abroad, not students already in the U.S.

• Holding a valid student visa does not mean you’re forced to leave.

• Students from India, China, Singapore, Europe, Canada, Australia, etc. are not affected by these bans.

So yes — some nationalities face tighter scrutiny and slower processing. But it is inaccurate to say the U.S. has “banned international students.”

MYTH 7: “The U.S. education system is unfriendly to international students — it’s not worth it anymore.”

False.

Calling the system “unfriendly” ignores what still makes the U.S. the number 1 destination for study abroad:

• Hosts 1.1 million international students, more than any country in the world

• OPT + STEM-OPT offer up to 3 years of work authorization

• Thousands of scholarships for international students exist at private universities

Yes — it’s harder, more competitive, more bureaucratic.

But competitive is not closed.

For students who prepare strategically, the U.S. continues to offer the strongest ROI in global education.

Why U.S. Study Visas Are Still a Safe Bet

Stripping away emotional headlines and looking at the data shows the opposite of crisis:The U.S. isn’t just welcoming international students — it depends on them.

Here are the three biggest reasons:

1. The U.S. Is Deeply Dependent on International Talent

Zoom into STEM fields:

• 58% of full-time graduate students in computer science and engineering are international

• 40% of all U.S. STEM doctorates go to non-U.S. citizens• Nearly 50% of all A.I. research papers include an international author

• 1 in 3 U.S. Nobel Prize winners was born abroad

The startup economy makes it even clearer:

According to the National Foundation for American Policy, 55% of U.S. billion-dollar startups (Google, Tesla, Zoom, Nvidia) were founded or co-founded by immigrants.

International students contribute $38B+ annually to the U.S. economy — more than the combined export value of dairy, coffee, and entertainment services.

The U.S. cannot afford to lose this talent.

And that’s why universities, investors, and employers fight to protect it.

2. Universities & Companies Are Fighting Back Against New Visa Rules

Universities like Harvard, MIT, and Purdue are now openly lobbying to protect international admissions.

In April, a U.S. federal court ruled in favor of institutions challenging DHS for wrongfully terminating student records — restoring more than 130 student statuses.

Major companies including Microsoft and Google — top H-1B sponsors — are still filing thousands of petitions, publicly reinforcing their dependence on international talent.

Money and innovation drive policy.

Both sides clearly want international students to stay.

3. A New Administration Could Reverse International Visa Policies

A Democratic win in 2028 could shift everything.

If the Obama/Biden tone returns:

• Simplified visa renewals inside the U.S.

• More financial aid for international students

• Policies linking higher education with workforce development

Visa restrictions swing in cycles. This cycle will swing back — because it always has.

Tina Chulet’s View

So if you ask me whether international students should still apply to the U.S.:

Yes. Absolutely.

Student visas aren’t being revoked.

Students are not being banned or deported without cause.

H-1Bs are still being issued.

Top tech companies are still hiring international graduates.

The U.S. innovation ecosystem is powered by global talent.

The opportunity, exposure, networks, and career acceleration from a U.S. college education remain unmatched.

What Students Should Do Now

If you plan to study abroad in the USA, here’s what to do today:

1. Build a globally strong profile.

   Achievements with depth, leadership, and real results stand anywhere.

   
   

2. Keep backup options.

   Apply to 2–3 countries (Canada, UK, Singapore) to protect timelines.

   
   

3. Plan for longer visa and interview timelines.

   Apply early, pay fees early, always keep a deferral in pocket.

   
   

4. Watch trends, not headlines.

   Visas follow politics, but demand for global talent does not stop.

Takeaway

Every few years, international students face uncertainty —

Post-9/11. 2020 pandemic. Today’s political climate.

But history shows one consistent truth:

The U.S. always recalibrates, because its strength depends on the very students it makes nervous today.

If you’re watching this from outside America wondering whether to apply —you should. Apply smarter, apply wider, but don’t pull back.