The Voice News: BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) — Chinese students accepted to U.S. universities are facing uncertainty and frustration after the Trump administration announced a suspension of new student visa appointments and a plan to “aggressively” revoke existing visas for Chinese nationals. The move has not been clarified in terms of scope or timeline, nor has the State Department said when visa scheduling will resume.
With around 277,000 Chinese students currently enrolled at U.S. institutions, the policy shift could significantly disrupt both higher education revenues and the talent pipeline for U.S. tech firms.
“I felt really anxious seeing the news on social media,” said Chen, 22, who holds an offer from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study humanities. Her visa process hasn’t begun, and classes start in early August. She’s considering deferring or switching to the London School of Economics if needed.
The uncertainty has triggered panic among students rushing to secure last-minute interview slots. Wu, a 29-year-old biology student from Shanghai with an offer from the University of Minnesota Duluth, managed to book a June appointment after hours of trying online. She has no backup plan if her visa is denied.
A leaked cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. missions to pause new visa scheduling pending updated guidance on social media vetting. While previously scheduled interviews can proceed, no restart date for new bookings has been provided.
“This sudden decision comes just as students are preparing to travel, secure housing, and settle in before the fall term,” said a high school senior from Beijing accepted to Ohio State University. “I need at least one to two more months for my visa — this is a disaster.”
On Chinese social media platform RedNote, students shared fears and frustrations, with some reporting increased scrutiny of their online activity by U.S. consular officials.
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the move, calling it “ideologically driven” and a “politically discriminatory” action that undermines the U.S.’s proclaimed values of freedom of speech. Spokesperson Mao Ning said China has officially protested the decision.
Despite easing trade tensions, the crackdown on student visas comes amid continued friction between the U.S. and China. In 2023, international students—over half from India and China—contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the Department of Commerce.
“It’s self-sabotage to block top global talent,” said Rush Doshi, a former Biden official and now professor at Georgetown University. A Chinese PhD student in Wisconsin commented on RedNote, “The iron fist has come down… the good days are over.”