Many colleges around the United States have been reporting that International students’ F-1 visa revoked unexpectedly, expressing alarm over the new government policies. The cancellation of student visas is happening for various reasons, but the government is quietly terminating the students’ legal residency with little notice to students and schools.
It marks a shift from the past practices, leaving students vulnerable due to detention and deportation. Here, we have shared other details related to revoking the visa in the country.
F-1 Visa Revoked 2025
The number of international students studying in the US who are ordered to leave the country after their F-1 visa is revoked without any legal notice is increasing. Some students have received emails from the US Department of State telling them to leave immediately as their visas have been cancelled.
Others have been detained before even their universities were informed of a change in their legal status. The students have sometimes been charged with illegal activities or political activism. In some colleges, officials are informed about the legal visa cancellations after making internal checks in their system.
F-1 Visa Overview
| Department | U.S. Department of State |
| Name of Visa | F-1 Student Visa |
| SEVP | Student and Exchange Visitor Program |
| Country | USA |
| Benefit | Legal stay and study in the U.S. |
| Beneficiaries | International students |
| Category | Latest News |
| Official Website | https://www.state.gov/ |
F-1 Visa Cancelled for Some Students in 2025
The Trump Administration has been targeting the students who have been involved in pro-Palestinian activism or speech. Some high-profile detention students included a green card holder, Mahmoud Khalil, a protest leader at Columbia University.
Some schools have noticed the student’s visa termination even though they have no connection with the protest. The colleges have also stated that the reason for the F-1 visa revoked is unclear, and they are also seeking answers.
Student Visas Cancelled Without Notice
In past cases, the immigration authorities worked under the universities; now, officials say that student records are being quietly deleted from the database without informing the institutions.
The newsagent press reported that two international students have been found to have terminated their legal residency status at the University of Texas at Austin.
One is from India, whose status was cancelled on April 3, and another from Lebanon, who lost theirs on March 28. Both the students graduated and worked full-time under post-study work rules. They haven’t violated any visa conditions and have no involvement in the protest.
How F-1 Student Visas Work
Students from different countries must meet specific requirements to obtain a student visa, usually an F-1 visa. After admission to a US school, students need to give an interview and an application process at the embassy or consulate abroad.
Students studying under an F-1 visa need to show they have income support to afford their courses during studies in US schools. They also need to be aware that they have worked well in their academic program and are generally limited to working off campus during their education.
The State Department of each university manages students’ entry into the school and their visa status. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program under the Department of Homeland Security oversee legal status.
When leaders of many colleges checked their databases, they found that the F-1 visas of many students had been terminated. In the past, the visas were typically revoked after the schools informed the government when a student fell out of status.
Colleges Are Trying to Reassure US Students
Many colleges have tried reassuring students that the government has revoked the F-1 visa without notice. The college has been asking federal authorities to answer what led to the terminations of the students. Some colleges have re-emphasized the travel precautions to students, recommending they carry their passports and other immigration documents with them.
The University of Massachusetts, Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco wrote in an email, “With the rate and depth of change occurring, we must be thoughtful in how we best prepare, project, and respond. He further said that “legal residency of the two students has been cancelled and five other members of our university community including recent graduates participating in training programs.
FAQs
What is an F-1 Visa revoked?
The legal residency status of international students in the United States has been terminated without notice.
How many of the University of Texas students in Australia faced visa revocation?
Two students, one from India and the other from Lebanon.
What is the main reason behind the revocation of F-1 Visa?
Involvement of students in pre-Palestinian activism or speech.