"Is This Serious? Should I Go Back to Korea?"... New U.S. Internship Guidelines Put International Students on Edge

Guidelines Permit Only Internships Directly Linked to Academic Programs
Trump Administration: "Proper Application of Existing Regulations"
Unavoidable Impact Expected for International Students Planning Employment

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced measures to restrict foreign students enrolled in U.S. universities from participating in internships. There are concerns that this could narrow the options for international students who sought to gain practical work experience at local companies before graduation.

According to Yonhap News Agency on August 30, local media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), sent new guidelines regarding ‘Curricular Practical Training (CPT)’ for foreign students at U.S. universities to those institutions on August 24 (local time).

A view of the UCLA campus in the United States. Some universities, including UCLA, have temporarily suspended accepting certain CPT applications according to new standards. Pixabay

CPT is a system that allows international students holding F-1 visas to participate in internships or practical training related to their major while continuing their studies. Until now, universities have operated CPT so that if a position was related to a student’s major and met conditions such as credit recognition, students could make use of the program.

However, SEVP recently pointed out that there is a growing number of CPT approvals that fall outside the permissible regulatory scope. The new guidelines emphasize that an internship must be an integral part of the university’s established curriculum, going beyond a mere connection to a student’s major. In particular, it was clarified that the curriculum must apply equally to all students, regardless of nationality, participating in the program.

Accordingly, some universities, including UCLA and UC Berkeley, have temporarily suspended specific CPT application submissions according to the new standards. UC Berkeley reportedly characterized the new guidance as “a significantly stricter interpretation” than the previous one.

U.S. President Donald Trump. The Trump Administration recently took measures to restrict foreign international students enrolled in U.S. universities from participating in internships. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

However, not all internships are being banned. CPT programs that meet the new requirements—such as internships that are strictly required for degree completion—may continue to be approved. The problem is that a large number of internships previously used to gain major-related experience may no longer meet CPT requirements under the new rules.

This move extends the Trump Administration’s efforts to strengthen regulations related to international students. Previously, DHS established a new rule limiting the period that F-1 students and others can stay in the United States, changing it from an ‘academic period’ to a specific time frame. This rule is set to take effect on September 15.

The U.S. government has stated that this measure is not intended to block foreign students’ employment itself, but rather to ensure proper application of current CPT regulations. SEVP has warned that universities that do not comply with the regulations could lose their certification to enroll international students.

However, since internships have been a crucial bridge linking academic learning and real-world industry experience for international students, there are concerns that this move will affect universities’ competitiveness in attracting overseas students.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.