As the U.S. government imposes travel restrictions on dozens of countries and enacts stricter visa scrutiny, student-athletes on F-1 visas face heightened risks—particularly if they leave the country or accept compensation from their schools. Ksenia Maiorova warns that even valid visas don’t guarantee reentry and urges universities to seek specialized legal guidance, especially as many institutions mistakenly rely on flawed interpretations of labor laws.
