Published by: The Times of India - August 29, 2025
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/dhs-regulation-seeks-to-tighten…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Rajiv S. Khanna, managing attorney at Immigration.com flagged several areas of concern. On the ban against undergraduates transferring programs in their first year, he said: “This provision essentially traps students in programs or schools that may prove unsuitable. Legitimate reasons for early transfers include academic mismatch, financial hardship, misleading program descriptions, or personal circumstances.”
Talking to TOI, he further criticized restrictions on graduate students, who under the proposed regulation would be prohibited from changing programs altogether. It is proposed that an F-1 student at the graduate degree level or above may not change programs at any point during a program of study. DHS has argued that graduate students should be more focused and committed to their chosen field than undergraduates, and that program changes at this level indicate a lack of genuine academic purpose.
“This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how graduate education works. Research evolves, advisors leave, and funding shifts. Students may discover new interests or realize their current program isn't the best fit for their career goals. The proposed regulation treats legitimate academic change as fraud,” said Khanna.
Khanna said: “While targeting obvious abuse, this restriction eliminates legitimate educational pathway. For instance, a graduate in literature who wants to study computer science and opt for a complete career change may need to complete undergraduate prerequisites. The proposed regulation has ignored the need for skill updates - technology professionals may need to complete certificate or associate programs in rapidly evolving fields or those in art and creative fields like artists, musicians, or writers may legitimately pursue multiple programs to develop their craft.”
“The restriction assumes all education must follow a linear progression, ignoring how modern careers and professional development actually work. It penalizes students for the realities of the 21st-century economy,” asserted Khanna.
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