Texas International Students Have Status Revoked and Restored

 Posted on April 28, 2025 in Immigration

Thousands of international students whose ability to stay legally in the United States was revoked a few weeks ago are now having their immigration status restored. About 250 of these students are in Texas, including 12 of the 23 students at Texas A&M University who had their status terminated in early April. It was unclear at the time the status was restored whether any of them had left the country after the revocations.

Four students at Texas Woman’s University, five at the University of Texas at San Antonio, three at the University of Texas Rio Grande, and four at the University of Texas at El Paso had their status restored. Many of these students received no notification from the federal government that their status had been terminated.

These notifications are usually posted in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.  The Secretary of State announced that federal officials would use AI to screen the social media of international students, issuing revocations of visas if any pro-Palestine content was found.

Without legal student status, students are unable to work in the United States and, in many cases, cannot continue their studies. If you are a student in Texas who is concerned about your legal status, it can be beneficial to speak to an experienced Plano, TX immigration attorney.

Why Are Other International Students Having Their Status Revoked?

Immigration officials have also terminated the status of students who have had brushes with the law, regardless of how minor. In some cases, students charged with a minor traffic offense have had their student status revoked. In other cases, those who had contacted law enforcement as a victim or witness to a crime had their student status revoked.

Due to a lack of due process, many lawyers representing these international students have filed lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security. This has led to dozens of students across the United States having their legal status restored. In 2024, more than 89,000 international students were enrolled at universities in Texas. These students contributed around $2.5 billion to the state's economy, yet many international students are now reconsidering coming to America on a student visa.

How Are Student Visas Obtained?

A foreign student who wants to study in the United States must first obtain a student visa. The course of study and type of school the student plans to attend will determine the type of visa required. An "F" visa is required to attend a university or college. Those who wish to attend a vocational or other type of non-academic institution will need an "M" visa.

In some instances, a visitor, or "B" visa, permits enrollment in a short course of study that does not count toward an academic certification or degree.  The student must be accepted at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school and registered with the SEVIS. The SEVP school will issue the student a Form I-20, and then the prospective student can apply for an F or M visa at a consulate or U.S. embassy.

Applying for an F or M visa requires completing an online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) and providing a photo that meets all the stated requirements. An interview is scheduled; however, wait times vary by season, visa category, and location. A new student visa can be issued for up to 365 days before the semester begins, but the student cannot enter sooner than 30 days before the start date.

Contact a Dallas, TX Immigration Attorney

If you are a student in the United States on a student visa and concerned about your ability to remain in the Country, it can help to speak with a knowledgeable Plano, TX immigration lawyer from Law Office of Jae Lee. Attorney Lee offers one-on-one guidance and can work with clients remotely. Clients will work directly with Attorney Lee, whose parents went through the immigration process. Call 214-295-3014 to schedule a free consultation.