"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 moved to restrict the participation of international students enrolled in American universities in internships. There are growing concerns that options for international students who aimed to gain hands-on experience at local companies before graduation could become more limited.

According to Yonhap News Agency on August 30, local media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that on August 24 (local time), the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) delivered new guidelines regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students to U.S. universities.

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 program that allows international students with F-1 student visas to participate in internships or practical training related to their major while continuing their studies. Until now, universities have allowed the use of CPT as long as the internship is related to the student’s major and meets requirements such as receiving academic credit.

However, the SEVP recently pointed out that there has been an increase in cases where CPT approvals exceed permitted regulatory boundaries. The new guidelines emphasize that internships must go beyond merely being related to the major; they must be an essential, established part of the school’s official curriculum. In particular, the interpretation was presented that the curriculum must apply equally to all students participating in the program, regardless of their nationality.

As a result, some universities, including UCLA and the University of California, Berkeley, have temporarily suspended the acceptance of certain CPT applications according to the new standards. The University of California, Berkeley reportedly described the new guidelines as "a much stricter interpretation" compared to previous ones.

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 will be banned. CPT programs that meet the new standards, such as internships that are mandatory for degree completion, may continue to be approved. The problem is that a significant number of internships previously used to gain experience related to students’ majors may no longer satisfy the CPT requirements.

This measure is a continuation of the Trump Administration’s efforts to strengthen regulations regarding international students. Previously, the DHS finalized rules limiting the period F-1 students and others can remain in the U.S. to a set time frame, rather than the duration of their academic program. This regulation is scheduled to take effect from September 15.

The U.S. government maintains that the intent behind this measure is not to ban foreign students from working, but to properly apply existing CPT regulations. The SEVP warned, "Universities that fail to comply with the regulations may lose their certification to enroll foreign students."

Nevertheless, given that internships have served as a vital link between academics and real-world industry for international students, some expect that these measures may negatively affect universities’ competitiveness in attracting international students.

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