Dozens of Indian students in the US have received orders to self-deport after their F-1 student visas were revoked due to minor offenses. The affected students are from universities in Missouri, Texas, and Nebraska, with cited offenses including over-speeding, traffic violations, shoplifting, and alcohol-related charges.
Designated School Officials (DSOs) have sent emails to students informing them that their SEVIS records have been terminated, rendering their Form I-20, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and legal stay in the US invalid. The emails state, “If your visa has been revoked, this means that the F-1 visa in your passport is no longer valid. If you are in the US, you may need to make plans for immediate departure.”
Several students claim their violations are old and already resolved through legal channels. Examples include:
- A Hyderabad native fined for over-speeding two years ago in New York, with no arrest made.
- A student who admitted to a drunk driving charge and complied with court mandates, including installing a car ignition lock and routine sobriety tests.
- A Texas student arrested for shoplifting items worth $144 from Walmart, with the case dismissed due to his clean academic record and cooperation.
Immigration lawyers say such revocations for minor infractions are highly unusual. Texas-based attorney Chand Paravathneni, handling around 30 similar cases, expressed surprise at the severity of the actions. “We have hardly seen anyone’s SEVIS being revoked for petty offenses like failing to stop at a red light or driving with a learner’s permit and no licensed driver in the car.”
Experts warn that such infractions are taken seriously in the US, and students are usually briefed about them during orientation. This crackdown has added to growing anxiety among Indian students navigating a complex immigration system. Even minor mistakes may now have life-altering consequences. In 2024, the US F-1 student visa for Indian students dropped by 38%, with only 64,008 visas issued, compared to 103,495 in 2023. This decline is attributed to various factors, including visa application delays, extended interviews, and stricter immigration policies.
The US government has been enforcing immigration laws more strictly, affecting international students. The recent policy changes and growing tensions have raised concerns among Indian students, who are a significant portion of the international student population in the US.
