International Voices: How UAlbany International Students Deal with Visa Policies

By Emma Alvarado | November 10, 2025

Graduate International Student at university looking up at global world flags.                         

Photo credit: Pixabay 

Since the current presidential administration took office in January 2025, international students studying in the United States are experiencing more difficulty with receiving and maintaining their student visas. At the University at Albany, this national problem has created uncertainty about students’ legal status, administrative burdens and emotional distress.

UAlbany’s department of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) makes consistent  efforts to keep all international students updated about any policy changes regarding their legal  status in the United States.

On the ISSS website, students can access resources and information about their visa status or updated guidelines. ISSS also offers walk-in advising appointments and meeting options. 

“UAlbany’s priority is to provide a safe and uplifting educational experience,” said UAlbany’s  Public Information director, Amy Geduldig, in a statement to the Albany Student Press (ASP). “We will continue to do everything possible to support our international students.” 

Many international students feel that ISSS has been helpful by sending them necessary emails, updates regarding policy changes, useful resources and information. 

A UAlbany graduate school senior from Nepal praised the monthly zoom session panels that ISSS hosts with lawyers and policy makers, as well as emails and updates regarding any policy changes, informing international students on their rights and their legal status. 

Students recognize the difficult position that the university is in since they are a partially federally funded school and have no power in the visa policy making process. 

“I understand it's a very complicated topic because I feel that they want to support,” said a UAlbany second semester graduate student, who preferred to remain anonymous. “But they cannot do a lot when we have problems.”  

Despite efforts by the university to help international students during these uncertain times,  UAlbany has seen a decline in international students in the 2025-2026 academic year compared to last year. 

According to information Geduldig shared with the ASP, there was a 16% decline in international student enrollment, dropping from 1,769 to 1,483. 

“We are also working closely with SUNY and state partners to continue to provide our students  with significant support, guidance and resources, as well as opportunities for community and  belonging,” Geduldig said. 

One of the major changes the Trump administration made to visa policies, which was posted to the U.S department of State website, is that now students must undergo increased vetting and social media screening established by the United States Department of State.  

According to CBS News, the increased social media screening by consular officers at the U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, includes identifying any views it deems hostile towards the United States or its government. Any posts, likes or comments possibly expressing these views could lead to the  refusal or removal of a student visa. All applicants are required to make social media accounts public. 

“They're certain things you can't do. So that's why I feel like I'm being watched,” said the UAlbany graduate school student from Nepal. “On social media, everything comes up, right, and we start to like anything, interact with it or even repost it on our story. Well, I can't do that  because I don't think it's safe to do that right now, so I don't do that, so in that way I'm being watched.” 

The continuously tightening restriction on free speech has contributed to creating a stressful  environment for international students. “The fact that you cannot have a really free speech when you are in  classes or even on social media because you have to be aware that you are foreign, so it's stressful,” said the UAlbany second semester graduate student.

“Your visa can be revoked anytime,” the UAlbany second semester student said. She explained  that her worries about a possible visa revocation have negatively impacted her mental health. 

A UAlbany international student junior, who also prefers to remain anonymous, shared how he has been in conflicting situations, unsure of if he should be carrying his documentation.

At a UAlbany dining hall event called “Taste Traveling Destinations” held at the end of the Spring 2025 semester, he was faced with a mock TSA check point. “I saw that I was like, wait, hold on,” he said. “Are they gonna check my passport?  Did I need to bring my visa? I was actually scared.” 

One student felt unsafe even walking in the street without her documentation and is more  mindful of keeping it on her. 

“I have to bring my papers with me all the time after everything that is happening in California and the ICE attention because of my accent and skin,” the UAlbany second semester graduate student said.

Uncertainty about what will happen next with their legal status leaves international students feeling discouraged with the idea of staying in the U.S once they finish their academic program. 

According to the Department of Homeland Security, this department may end the “Duration of Status” policy, which currently grants international students' legal status in the U.S past their duration of the academic program. This would mean that students must reapply for a visa and go through more vetting, leaving a lot of uncertainty of their future in the U.S.

The second semester graduate student said that she would like to stay in the U.S. if it weren't for recent changes in migratory policies. 

The UAlbany junior plans on going to medical school – but now, he may not apply in this country. 

“That was the goal I had because I did my undergrad here. But right now, I also must consider what’s going to happen in the future, so there's that uncertainty,” he said.  

Other international students plan on leaving the U.S. once they graduate due to difficulty finding internships or jobs as international students. 

The UAlbany graduate student from Nepal attributed the difficulty to the long applications and  the increased H-1B visa fee employers must pay to hire foreign specialty workers. 

“Now it's very hard to find a job or an internship. Companies are starting to not take any student visas or any working visas. It was already limited for us now but now it has been very difficult for us to find a job.” 

Another UAlbany senior graduate student from the Caribbean speaking on the condition of  anonymity expressed how he is having difficulty navigating the job and internship application  process because he feels that employers are focusing on his race. To him, this further discourages his plans to stay in the U.S once he graduates.

This uncertainty in the future creates a stressful situation for many international students who are  unable to return home because of ongoing issues in their home countries. 

“There are other students who are from other countries who cannot go back. I'm not just talking about countries in the Middle East. No, I'm talking about Venezuela for example and Latin America,” said the UAlbany second semester graduate student. 

“Obviously, it's changed a lot the way that we feel about our migratory status. I think before the  administration the student visa was a very safe visa, so it was like ‘okay I'm fine’ because I'm  here studying. And then now it's like no, that's not true anymore,” they continued.

International students who feel that the current political climate is affecting their mental health, or have any questions about resources or legal status can reach out to ISSS at their website.