Know Your Rights
Information for International Students
IMMIGRATION UPDATE from
If you are an international student, it is critical that you not be charged with a crime. Even speeding tickets are being used to justify the revocation of a visa. It can be easier to commit a crime in Virginia due to Virginia's driving code. It is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor (the highest level misdemeanor) to drive over 20mph over the speed limit (e.g. driving 86 in a 60 on Route 29). Anything over 85mph is also considered a Class 1 misdemeanor. If you go this fast, you may be charged with Reckless Driving. Such a charge and/or conviction may trigger the revocation of your student visa. It is critical that you drive the speed limit.
The U.S. government has the discretion to revoke visas. What the April 4, 2025 visa revocations appear to have in common is that the visa holders were fingerprinted as part of a traffic violation or criminal charge, regardless of whether the person was actually convicted.