The U.S. administration is sending mixed signals on visas, leaving students from the Chinese mainland guessing about their future in American universities. 😬
Reuters reported that the U.S. proposed tighter visa durations for students and media workers over national security worries. This could roll back long-term, multi-entry visas and complicate academic exchanges.
Yet, during a White House meeting, Trump said he’s ready to welcome as many as 600,000 students from the Chinese mainland, calling them 'very important.' 🙌
This statement followed a late-May move by the State Department to 'aggressively revoke visas for students from the Chinese mainland.' Such back-and-forth has already hit campuses.
As the fall semester kicks off, NPR notes that U.S. colleges saw a drop in international enrollments, partly due to visa changes and a tense political vibe.
After peaking at 372,532 in 2019-20, numbers fell to 289,526 in 2022 and 277,398 in 2023. Experts expect more declines, citing strained U.S.-China ties and a shrinking population in the Chinese mainland.
Some universities, like the University of Michigan, even ended partnerships with Chinese mainland institutions, amid concerns that U.S. funding fuels technology and military advances.
With so much uncertainty, students from the Chinese mainland are left in limbo—wondering if they’ll crack into their dream programs. ✈️📚
Reference(s):
U.S. admin's shifting stance fuels uncertainty for Chinese students
cgtn.com
