Published by American Study Advisor | March 2025

In a surprising and headline-grabbing statement, former U.S. President Donald Trump recently proposed that international students graduating from American colleges should automatically receive green cards — a potential game-changer for students around the world dreaming of studying and settling in the United States.

What Did Trump Say?

During an interview on the popular “All-In” podcast in June 2024, Trump said:

“You graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country, and that includes junior colleges too.”

This unexpected shift from Trump — known for his hardline immigration policies during his presidency — sparked widespread discussions in the education and tech sectors.

Why This Matters for International Students

Currently, international students on F-1 visas must navigate a complicated process after graduation. Optional Practical Training (OPT), H-1B visa lotteries, and sponsorship hurdles often discourage talented graduates from staying in the U.S.

If implemented, this new proposal could:

• ✅ Eliminate the stress of finding an H-1B sponsor.
• ✅ Offer long-term job security and a direct path to permanent residency.
• ✅ Encourage more students globally to choose U.S. education.
• ✅ Strengthen America’s workforce with skilled graduates in fields like STEM, healthcare, and business.

What’s the Catch?

As of now, this is just a proposal, not a law. There are no official policy changes or legislation in place to enact it. And given the political divide in the U.S., it’s unclear whether such a policy would pass Congress — especially since many of Trump’s advisors still favor restrictive immigration policies.

American Study Advisor’s View

At American Study Advisor, we welcome any development that recognizes the value of international students and provides smoother, clearer immigration pathways.

We believe that students who invest their time, money, and dreams into studying in the U.S. deserve fair opportunities to build a future here — and proposals like this highlight the growing support for those ideas.

Should You Wait?

No. If you’re planning to study in the U.S., you should move forward with your plans. Any changes to immigration policy could take months or years to implement — and they may never happen.

What matters now is having the right guidance and supportive advisors to help you through the current F-1 visa, OPT, and career planning process.

Need help with your U.S. study journey?
Connect with our team at American Study Advisor — we specialize in visa services, admissions, test prep, and career counseling for international students.