The United States says it will begin revoking visas of Chinese students and tighten screening for future applicants from China and Hong Kong.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this on Wednesday night.
“The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio said on X.
In a press release, the United States Department stated that it would also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong.
It was not immediately clear how many students currently in the United States would be affected or whether any exemptions would apply.
According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), about 277,000 Chinese students were enrolled at U.S. universities during the 2023-2024 academic year, making them the second-largest group of international students after those from India.
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International students – India and China together accounting for 54% of them – contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The U.S. already applies strict visa rules for Chinese nationals in certain academic disciplines, particularly in science and technology.
China’s Foreign Office said it filed a complaint against the unjustified step.
United States President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to ramp up deportations and revoke student visas as part of wide-ranging efforts to fulfil its hardline immigration agenda.
The new measures come amid reports that the State Department has halted new visa interviews for international students and exchange visitors while it reviews screening procedures, including expanded checks on social media activity.
The pause affects F, M and J visa categories, including those for students, interns and au pairs, with further instructions expected in the coming days.
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