Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025

This bill tightens rules for student and exchange visas. Schools that enroll international students must be accredited (with only short, limited waivers), and they must report when a student pays full tuition and other key updates into the government system, with fines or loss of approval for not reporting on time . It sets clear end dates on student stays (generally up to the program length or 4 years, plus 30 days), adds in‑person interviews for certain extensions or changes, and limits online classes to 10% of a student’s program . It raises penalties for visa fraud, allows quick suspension if a school official is suspected or charged with fraud, and permanently bars officials convicted of serious related crimes from the program . Employers of students must use E‑Verify, report job details quickly, and attest the student is not replacing a U.S. worker, or they can face multi‑year bans on hiring students .

The bill also blocks or restricts certain studies for people from specific countries. It bars visas for people from a list of “foreign adversary” countries who seek higher‑education coursework in the U.S., applying to applications filed on or after enactment . It separately bans citizens of certain countries of concern from flight training or nuclear‑related fields and requires DHS to end the status of anyone already here who falls under those rules; DHS may add more countries based on security risks . Flight schools must hold proper FAA certification or lose approval to enroll foreign students immediately . Finally, the government must modernize the SEVIS tracking system within two years, move it fully paperless, and can charge schools fees to cover costs .

• Who: International students and exchange visitors; U.S. colleges, language programs, and flight schools; employers hiring students on training; applicants from certain countries .
• What changes: Accreditation required; stricter reporting and fraud penalties; fixed stay end dates and interviews; 10% cap on online coursework; limits on transfers and major changes; employer rules; country‑based study bans; SEVIS system upgrade .
• When: Some parts take effect immediately (e.g., uncertified flight schools); others start one year after enactment; SEVIS upgrade due within two years; the “adversary” visa bar applies to applications filed on or after enactment .