Visa appointment backlogs, heightened SEVIS scrutiny, and threats to Optional Practical Training disrupted international enrollment and employment pathways throughout 2025. Colleges reported students stranded abroad, delayed program starts, and recruitment setbacks. Institutions are now strategizing new operational and support models to stabilize international pipelines in 2026. Campus international‑student offices plan expanded advising, remote orientation options, alternative credential pathways, and tighter employer-engagement for post‑study work transitions. Universities are also negotiating with consulates and consortia to secure group appointment slots and contingency travel funding. Provosts and admissions leaders should expect continued volatility and build flexible enrolment models, enhanced virtual supports, and articulation agreements to reduce single‑point failures for international cohorts.