US student visas: What they are, & what are your rights if you're an F-1 visa holder

A recent spate of student visa revocations in the United States has unsettled international students and raised fresh concerns about immigration enforcement under Donald Trump’s campaign to tighten border controls. In several cases, foreign students were either forced to leave or taken into custody after federal authorities cancelled their visas, citing non-compliance or national security concerns. These developments have sparked anxiety across university campuses, where international students now worry about whether their lawful presence could be abruptly challenged.

As scrutiny of student visas intensifies, this explainer breaks down what the F-1 visa entails, what legal rights students have, and why some are now at risk despite following academic and immigration rules.

What is a student visa?

International students typically enter the United States on an F-1 visa. This visa is issued to students enrolled full-time in academic programs at colleges or universities approved by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).


To qualify and maintain this visa:

• Students must remain in good academic standing.
  
• They cannot work off-campus during their first academic year without special authorization.
  
• They must prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves while studying.
  
  

The F-1 visa is valid for the duration of the academic program and can be extended if studies take longer than expected.

How important are student visas to US colleges?

Student visas benefit both international students and US universities. According to NAFSA, a nonprofit that tracks international education, 1.1 million foreign students contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy in the 2023–24 academic year.

Institutions such as New York University, Northeastern University, Columbia, and Arizona State University have some of the largest international student populations. According to the Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, Indian students make up 29% of this group, followed by Chinese students at 25%, South Koreans at 4%, and Canadians at 3%.

What rights do student visa holders have?

While their legal status is temporary, student visa holders are still protected under US law.

“The Constitution applies to all persons,” immigration lawyer Joshua Bardavid told The New York Times. “Even people who are undocumented have basic and constitutional due process rights.”

This includes the First Amendment right to free speech. However, these protections do not guarantee protection from immigration enforcement actions. Immigration authorities can revoke a visa if they believe the holder is not complying with visa conditions.

Why are students worried now?

Some students fear that lawful behavior—especially political expression—might lead to visa problems.

“They’re terrified. They’re unsettled,” said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, in an interview with The New York Times. “Some of them are asking themselves, ‘Should I remain here, knowing there is so much uncertainty, or is it best that I just go home?’”

Recent policy changes have amplified these fears. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered US diplomats to review the social media posts of visa applicants, particularly looking for criticism of the US and Israel. He told reporters that hundreds of visas—including student and visitor visas—have already been revoked.

Why can a student visa be revoked?

Visa revocation typically occurs if a student:

• Fails to maintain academic standing (e.g., GPA drops below the required threshold).
  
• Works without proper authorization.
  
• Is considered a public safety concern.
  
  

“I’ve seen a student visa revoked because a student had a massive number of speeding tickets,” said Sarah Spreitzer of the American Council on Education, speaking to The New York Times.

Although political expression has rarely been grounds for deportation in the past, students and faculty now say the line is no longer clear.

“We have students who are here to study journalism in the United States precisely because of the reputation of freedom of the press here,” said Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, to The New York Times. “Now they’re extremely worried about whether they can even do their work without having their visas revoked.”

Can students appeal if their visa is revoked?

Legal experts say options are limited.

“I can’t even think of a case offhand where a student would successfully be able to have challenged their denial of a student visa in federal court,” Bardavid said to The New York Times. “That’s just not going to happen.”

Even arrests that don’t lead to conviction—or disciplinary actions by universities—can trigger visa reviews.

Joseph Lento, a lawyer advising international students, told The New York Times that many students don’t realize their immigration status can be jeopardized by non-criminal incidents.