With the start of the new school year, U.S. colleges and universities are welcoming new and returning international students—albeit still not as many as there were pre-pandemic. The student exchange and visitor program (SEVP) released its annual report in April 2023 showing that while in 2022 there was a 10% increase in active F-1 and M-1 students from 2021, there were still 10% fewer international students in 2022 than there were in 2019. Of course, a global pandemic caused most of the world to shut down and heavily restrict international travel, but 2022 was the first full year that most international borders opened. In spite of students being able to cross borders to be admitted to schools, however, the number of international students coming into the United States seems to be lagging. One factor may be the complex U.S. immigration system, which restricts students' ability to work while earning their degree and provides only limited options to continue working in the United States after graduation.

It is common for college students to pursue work opportunities while studying, whether for financial purposes or to explore career prospects, however, international students must be aware of the strict regulations around their employment activities while in the United States. An F-1 student who works without authorization will violate their F-1 status, which may result in immediate termination of status with far-reaching negative implications for future U.S. immigration benefits.