Colleges entering 2026 still face fallout from 2025 visa delays, OPT uncertainty and SEVIS actions that disrupted international enrollments; institutions are now crafting contingency plans and advising affected students on alternatives. At the same time, a federal district court upheld President Trump’s authority to impose a large new H‑1B employer fee in litigation over the proclamation, a decision likely to affect campus hiring for research and specialized instruction. The dual pressures—student mobility constraints and higher costs for sponsoring skilled workers—are prompting universities to re-evaluate recruitment, payroll and international-staff strategies.