Visa Cancellations and AI Guarding the Border: 10 Major Immigration Changes in the US

The administration of US President Donald Trump has introduced sweeping changes to the visa regime, affecting students, workers and travelers. Travelobiz talks about the main new rules in visa policy.

Visa rules in the United States are changing rapidly in 2025, which could be challenging for students, tech workers, or just travelers. As the administration Trump tightens immigration rules, some of these changes may make it more difficult to enter or stay in the country.

1. Hundreds of student visas cancelled – even for minor offences

More than 300 international students, including from Harvard and Stanford, have had their visas revoked. Some of the reasons cited include speeding tickets! Yes, you read that right – students visas were revoked due to traffic violations.

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Naturally, students are furious and confused, with many wondering if they could lose their visa status due to the slightest, most basic mistake.

2. F-1 visa approvals are plummeting, especially for students from India

If you are applying for an F-1 student visa from India, be aware: the refusal rate has reached 41% in 2024.

Expect longer wait times, more difficult interviews, and a lot more paperwork, especially when it comes to proving your financial stability.

3. OPT may be under threat

Optional Practical Training (OPT) – the main route for students to gain work experience after graduation – is under serious threat, with new legislative proposals aiming to wipe it out entirely.

This means that the US government can force international students to skip OPT and either apply directly for H-1B visas or leave the country.

4. Ban on issuing visas to citizens of South Sudan

In a surprise move, the United States has cancelled all visas for South Sudanese citizens due to the diplomatic implications of repatriation. The US government has not spared even those with protected status. This move to ban all citizens of one country sets a troubling precedent.

5. Warning to H-1B visa holders: Don't leave the US right now

Major tech companies are advising their H-1B employees against international travel. The reason? Massive processing delays and changing rules at the border. If you leave, there’s a real risk that you won’t be able to get back easily or at all. Some companies have even issued official memos advising against non-essential travel.

6. The CIS Ombudsman's Office has disappeared

The Immigration Ombudsman's Office, a lifeline for many facing visa problems, has officially closed. Without it, there will be one less place to turn when things go wrong. Visa holders worry about how to navigate the bureaucracy when no one is on their side.

7. AI tracks student protesters and revokes their visas

Yes, you read that right. The new “catch and revoke” policy uses AI to scan social media for student protesters, especially those accused of anti-Semitic behavior. Several student visas have already been revoked based on online activity.

8. H-2B visa cap reached, and it's only April

Seasonal H-2B work visas have already been exhausted for the second half of the fiscal year, months earlier than usual. Industries such as hospitality, seafood processing and landscaping are struggling because they rely heavily on this labor force.

9. New gender identity policy could make it harder to apply

USCIS has updated its domestic policy guidance to recognize only two biological sexes: male and female. This has raised serious concerns among LGBTQ+ applicants.

Transgender and non-binary people may now face more complex application processes or outright refusals.

10. J-1 Exchange Visas Under the Microscope

US authorities have kicked out international researchers for even minor administrative infractions. In one high-profile case, they revoked a Harvard scientist's visa over undeclared frog embryos.

The message is loud and clear: J-1 visa holders need to double-check every little detail. Mistakes that once merited warning now have life-changing consequences.