A Message from CPSAF Leadership

As of early-2026, the College Prep Student‑Athlete Foundation (CPSAF) is temporarily pausing all active programming — including scholarships, athlete support services, and event‑based outreach — due to sustained legal, regulatory, and political uncertainty affecting international student‑athletes in the United States.

This was not an easy decision. But it is a responsible one.

Why This Pause Is Necessary

CPSAF was founded to help high‑achieving international student‑athletes pursue elite academic and athletic opportunities in the U.S., primarily through pathways involving F‑1 student visas and full compliance with U.S. law.

Over the past year, a combination of federal visa policy changes, state‑level athletic restrictions, and unresolved NIL compliance conflicts has made that model increasingly unstable — and, in some cases, risky for the students we exist to serve.

⚖️ Visa Restrictions & Legal Risk

• Federal Entry Restrictions (2026)
  A presidential proclamation effective January 1, 2026 suspended entry for nationals of approximately 20 countries on certain nonimmigrant visas, including student categories. This has directly impacted CPSAF’s current and prospective international recruits by limiting entry, reentry, and long-term planning for affected students and their families.

• F-1 Visa Employment Limits
  Under longstanding federal rules, F-1 student visas strictly limit employment. Many Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) activities — endorsements, appearances, and promotional work — can be interpreted as unauthorized employment when performed inside the United States.

• NIL Compliance Uncertainty
  While NIL is permitted under NCAA rules, federal immigration law has not been updated to accommodate NIL activity for international students. As a result, international athletes face real risk if they accept compensation that is later deemed impermissible.

• Duration of Status Uncertainty
  Recent federal proposals to replace the traditional “duration of status” framework with fixed-term visa periods would require students to apply for extensions rather than having status tied automatically to enrollment. This introduces added cost, delay, and uncertainty for student-athletes and the institutions supporting them.

• Consequences of Non-Compliance
  Potential penalties include visa revocation, loss of status, removal proceedings, or future re-entry restrictions — outcomes no student or family should be forced to risk.

🏀 State‑Level Athletic Restrictions

• Texas (UIL)
  Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, UIL rules restrict foreign exchange students from participating in varsity athletics, limiting participation to sub‑varsity competition regardless of academic standing or athletic ability.

• Utah (UHSAA)
  A prior UHSAA rule limiting F‑1 students’ varsity eligibility is currently subject to federal litigation. A preliminary injunction allows affected students to participate while the case proceeds, but the long‑term outcome remains unresolved.

• Ongoing Tension
  These rules are often framed as preventing improper recruiting. In practice, they create instability for legitimate students who are lawfully enrolled and academically qualified.

📉 Enrollment Decline & Program Impact

• Declining Eligible Enrollment
  Enhanced visa scrutiny, travel restrictions affecting certain countries, and uncertainty around renewal and re‑entry have contributed to a decline in international student‑athlete enrollment at U.S. prep schools and universities — particularly among students who meet CPSAF’s strict academic, athletic, and compliance criteria.

• Reduced Pipeline Stability
  This has materially reduced the number of students CPSAF can responsibly support under our standards and mission.

💔 Donor Hesitation & Funding Reality

• Unpredictable Funding Environment
  The current visa and policy climate has made donor funding far less predictable. Commitments anticipated for 2025 have, in several cases, been delayed or withdrawn as donors assess ongoing legal and regulatory risk. Recent federal entry restrictions have also made future enrollment and program outcomes difficult to forecast, further contributing to donor hesitation.

• Philanthropic Impact
  Many donors and institutional partners have expressed hesitation supporting programs tied to populations facing potential visa disruption, travel bans, or forced departure.

• Sector-Wide Pullback
  This is not unique to CPSAF. Across education-adjacent nonprofits, funding tied to international student support has slowed significantly amid legal uncertainty.

• Responsible Stewardship
  Operating in this environment without clarity would risk both donor trust and student welfare.

🤝 Volunteer‑Led Organization

CPSAF operates as a 100% volunteer‑led organization, with no payroll, no paid staff, and no executive compensation. During this period of uncertainty, our leadership team continues to donate its time, expertise, and effort toward compliance review, advocacy, and long‑term planning — without drawing on donor funds.

Where We Stand

CPSAF is not closing.
We are strategically pausing.

This pause allows us to:

• Protect student‑athletes from legal and immigration risk

• Remain fully compliant with federal and state law

• Reassess our operating model in light of NIL, visa, and athletic‑eligibility realities

• Preserve donor trust through transparency and restraint

• Prepare for relaunch if and when the legal landscape stabilizes

To Our Donors, Families, and Athletes

We know this pause is disappointing. We share that disappointment.

But we believe it is better to pause responsibly than to continue operating in a way that could place students — or supporters — in harm’s way.

If and when federal and state regulations evolve to once again provide a clear, lawful pathway for international student‑athletes, CPSAF will be ready to move forward.

Until then, we remain grateful for your trust, your support, and your understanding.

—
The CPSAF Team