US International Student Visa Policy: New Visa Policies Increase Uncertainty for International Students in the US, ET TravelWorld
Advt
Advt
Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis.
Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates
Save your favourite articles
Scan to download App
New State Department guidance on visa applications is adding to uncertainty for America's international students, who have faced intensifying scrutiny from President Donald Trump's administration.In a cable sent Tuesday to US embassies and consulates, Secretary of State Marco Rubio halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students as the department prepares guidelines for increased vetting of their activity on social media. Existing appointments may be kept and will proceed under current review guidelines, the cable said.University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student Vladyslav Plyaka was planning to visit Poland to see his mother and renew his visa, but he doesn't know when that will be possible now that visa appointments are suspended. He also doesn't feel safe leaving the US even when appointments resume."I don't think I have enough trust in the system at this point," said Plyaka, who came to the US from Ukraine as an exchange student in high school and stayed for college.The announcement came days after the Trump administration moved to block Harvard University from enrolling any international students, a decision that has been put on hold by a federal judge, pending a lawsuit.Trump said Wednesday that Harvard, whose current student population is made up of more than a quarter of international students, should limit that percentage to about 15%."I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.Earlier this year, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and tried to deport students who had been involved in campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war. And the Trump administration abruptly terminated the legal status of thousands of international students before reversing itself and then expanding the grounds on which students can lose permission to study in the U.S.International students see new reason for caution The uncertainty raised by the suspension of visa appointments will do further damage to the US reputation as a destination country, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA , an association that represents international educators. Students generally commit to their program of study in late spring, meaning now would be peak time for students to schedule their visa interviews."International students and scholars are tremendous assets that contribute to US preeminence in innovation, research, and economic strength," Aw said in a statement. "Undermining their ability to study here is self-defeating."At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the climate of uncertainty led one international student to cancel a trip home to Vietnam this summer. He emails the school's international office frequently to make sure his legal status is secure."There's just this constant unease. It's quite stressful, really," said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted.The pause affects three categories of visas that cover university students, as well as high school exchange students and boarding school students. The largest category, F-1 visas, includes students who are enrolling at full-time accredited schools. Students participating in exchange programs enter on J-1 visas, and those enrolling in vocational or non-academic programs enter on M-1 visas.Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year - a source of essential revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Often, they pay full price.Northeastern University, which has more than 20,000 international students, has set up "contingency plans" for those who hit visa delays, said spokesperson Renata Nyul, without elaborating."This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts," she said.The US plans more in-depth reviews of visa applicants' social media Visa applicants have been required to provide social media handles to the State Department since 2019. The cable did not indicate what kind of additional scrutiny the new guidelines would cover, but suggested the new reviews may be more resource-intensive.The additional vetting will deter students from coming to the U.S., said Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, a literary and free expression organization."The details remain vague, but this policy risks upending the long-standing place of the US as a beacon for intellectual and cultural exchange with the world," Friedman said.The move to cut off international enrollment at Harvard stems from a dispute with the Department of Homeland Security, which has demanded that it provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. Harvard says it complied with the records request, but the agency said its response fell short.On Wednesday, Trump said more scrutiny of Harvard's students is necessary."They're taking people from areas of the world that are very radicalized, and we don't want them making trouble in our country," Trump said.The Trump administration has cut over USD 2.6 billion in federal grants for Harvard as it presses demands for changes to policies and governance at the Ivy League school, which the president has described as a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. Harvard has pushed back and filed a lawsuit against the administration.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
The US and China Are Talking Again. Don't Call It a Reset
Trade negotiations between the US and China in London mark a cautious step toward easing tensions, but not a new beginning. It's a short-term strategy to avoid further deterioration — a fragile truce that could be reversed at any moment. At the core is a deeper issue: National security. Both sides now view trade through that lens, and handshakes won't fix it. Washington must recognize that Beijing seeks respect and won't accept a one-sided, long-term deal. China, for its part, needs to understand that it won't be business as usual — and that the US will expect more concessions and market access to the world's second-largest economy. The alternative is continued hostility, which will make for a more chaotic global trade environment, and a more dangerous world. The London climbdown is positive, but precarious. Rapprochement has turned into recrimination before. After the initial euphoria of a trade-war ceasefire agreed in Geneva in May, both sides accused the other of reneging on a deal to temporarily lower tariffs that had climbed well above 100%. Now negotiators say they've reached an agreement in principle on a framework to deescalate trade tensions, based on the consensus forged in Geneva. Delegations from both sides will take the proposal back to their respective leaders, following nearly 20 hours of talks over two days. 'Once the presidents approve it, we will then seek to implement it,' US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. The full details of the accord weren't immediately available, but US officials said they 'absolutely expect' that issues around shipments of rare earth minerals and magnets will be resolved. There are no winners or losers coming out of this, notes Steve Okun, founder and chief executive officer of AC Advisors. The fundamental questions are much larger than any round of talks. 'The Trump administration needs to decide whether it views Beijing as a strategic competitor, or an existential threat,' he told me. 'Washington can take the economic hit from a trade war, but politically, Xi Jinping can suffer the hit for longer than Trump can. So one side has economic leverage, and the other political leverage — that's a standstill, for now.' The Chinese president is biding his time, despite a sluggish economy. In the most recent sign of how the trade war is hurting, exports rose less than expected last month. The worst drop in US-bound shipments since February 2020 — the outbreak of the pandemic — counteracted strong demand from elsewhere. Still, sales to other markets are providing much-needed support for an economy stuck in deflation and struggling with weak domestic demand. Beijing is sticking to its narrative that this trade war is Washington's problem, and that China is being unfairly targeted. A recent Xinhua commentary warned that America's security-focused view of economic issues risks undermining global cooperation. There is a pathway to peaceful coexistence, but compromises are required, notes Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution. To break through with Xi, Trump will need to acknowledge that both countries are major powers. Neither can dictate terms to the other. Both would be hurt by high tariffs on each other's goods — but on their own, they're not enough to force capitulation. The US public has no appetite for a broader conflict with Beijing. Disapproval of China's behavior may be high, but the top priority is still to avoid war. Americans are clear in their desire to manage competition without that escalating into open conflict. For that to happen, Washington must recognize that Beijing craves respect. The US would be wise to pay heed to the Chinese concept of mianzi or 'face' — Xi will only agree to a long-term deal that he can pitch at home and abroad as a win. Beijing has taken lessons from Trump's first trade war, and judged that agreement to be one-sided in favor of Washington. It won't make that mistake again. China doesn't always like reciprocating face, but officials would be wise to give some to Trump, too. His tariffs have been outlandish, but his supporters also demand that he show strength, not concession. Beijing should be able to understand what happens when politicians need to cater to public pressure. Neither side has the upper hand to make the other come away an obvious loser. At the most, the London talks might have achieved just enough to help shape the future on a less-hostile basis. That in itself is progress — but it would be a mistake to call this moment a reset. More From Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China. Previously, she was the BBC's lead Asia presenter and worked for the BBC across Asia and South Asia for two decades. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump's tariffs remain in effect for longer, US Appeals Court says: What does it mean?
Donald Trump can continue to enforce his global tariffs for now until the appeals proceed, a federal appeals court held in a win for the president on one of his signature economic policies. The order Tuesday by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit extends an earlier, short-term reprieve for the administration as it presses a challenge to a lower court ruling last month that blocked the tariffs. The Justice Department argued that the concerns of US officials over ongoing trade negotiations took precedence over the economic harm reported by the small businesses that filed the lawsuit. What does it mean? The court ruling means that President Donald Trump can, for now, continue enforcing his 'Liberation Day' tariffs on imports from most US trading partners. This includes a separate set of tariffs specifically imposed on Canada, China, and Mexico.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Will be met with very big force': Donald Trump's stern warning to protesters in Washington; security tightened in DC ahead of US Army's 250th parade
Donald Trump US President Donald Trump has warned demonstrators planning to protest during the upcoming military parade in Washington that they would face 'very big force." Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump issued a blunt message. 'For those people that want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force,' he said. 'And I haven't even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country, but they will be met with very heavy force. ' The event on Saturday marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army and coincides with the MAGA chief's 79th birthday. The day will feature an Army festival on the National Mall, a military parade through the capital, and a mass enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony led by the president. Law enforcement is preparing for massive crowds. According to US Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool, thousands of personnel from federal and local agencies will be deployed. 'At least nine permits have been issued for protests on that day,' he confirmed. Both the FBI and Metropolitan Police have said there are no credible threats. ' Nationwide Day of Defiance ' One of the major organisers of nationwide protests is a group called No Kings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like May 2025: Top 5 Dividend Stocks [Read Now] Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo On its website, the group says, 'They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.' The group has opted not to protest in Washington itself, accusing Trump of turning the parade into 'a made-for-TV display of dominance.' Instead, they are calling for a 'Nationwide Day of Defiance' to draw attention to what they describe as authoritarian politics under Trump. POTUS's action regarding LA protests The president also defended his recent decision to deploy 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, after protests broke out over immigration raids. 'Los Angeles was under siege until we got there,' Trump said, although state officials argue that the military deployment has only worsened tensions. While Trump cited violent episodes, including torched vehicles and attacks on officers, protest supporters say most demonstrations have been peaceful. Trump claimed without evidence that many protesters were 'paid insurrectionists.' The president's stance mirrors his long history of strong support for law enforcement and scepticism towards protest movements. In 2020, during nationwide unrest after George Floyd's killing, he reportedly asked military leaders if protesters could be shot. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have strongly condemned the decision to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles. Former presidential candidate Kamala Harris has also joined in the criticism. Many other Democratic leaders have criticised Trump's decision to deploy force without the state's permission, calling him a 'dictator.' Trump's birthday and US Army's 250th parade in DC A grand military parade is set to take place in Washington, DC on June 14 to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army's founding. The day also happens to be Trump's 79th birthday, and he is expected to speak at the event. Organised by the US Army and America250 commission, the celebration will include historical and modern military displays, fireworks, a parachute show by the Golden Knights, and a concert on the National Mall. About 200,000 people are expected to attend. The main parade route runs along Constitution Avenue, with standing room only for spectators. Security will be tight, as the event has been labelled a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. Entry will be limited to specific checkpoints, and several items like drones, chairs, and large bags are banned. Roads, flights, metro stations, and river access will face temporary disruptions. Concerns have been raised over damage from heavy tanks, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to install steel plates to protect roads. The event is expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million, including possible road repairs. Trump defended the spending, calling it a valuable show of strength.
