Navigating Policy Uncertainties of Post-Study Employment

International students have long played a vital role in filling workforce gaps in high-skill, high-demand sectors where domestic talent shortages are acute. However, recently enacted or proposed federal policy changes in the United States—including the elimination of Duration of Status (D/S) and restrictions on Optional Practical Training (OPT)—threaten this pipeline at a time when post-study work opportunities are a top motivator for international students when choosing an education destination.

International students and professionals in international student and scholar services (ISSS) are struggling with the ambiguity of these changes, says Robin Catmur-Smith, long-time NAFSA member and managing director of the recently launched International Student Resource Center (ISRC), a project of the Talent Mobility Fund. “We are finding that the types of questions the students are asking require a lot more interpretation and thought,” she says.

With lawsuits challenging some of these proposed changes, what’s next remains anyone’s guess. It's an uncertainty with serious, long-term consequences for higher education institutions—and on international students and the U.S. industries that depend on them.

Fear and Fallout

Regulatory volatility during the past year has also increased fear around hiring international talent, says Imran Oomer, cofounder of inSpring, a company that connects international talent with skilled roles in U.S. healthcare, energy, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing sectors. With regulations that support global talent mobility under scrutiny by the current administration, Oomer says that many employers are expressing concern and confusion as they develop their workforce plans.

With regulations that support global talent mobility under scrutiny by