The US State Department has announced they will revoke F-1 visas from Chinese students though the basis for revocation remains vague.
Revocation of Chinese student visas and revision of visa criteria
Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed plans to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese students, particularly those in critical fields or with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This initiative, coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security, also involves revising visa criteria to increase scrutiny for future applications from China and Hong Kong. The move follows concerns over espionage and foreign influence in US academic institutions.
The Department of Homeland Security has also stated that it will “revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”
Chinese students: Individuals from China and Hong Kong currently holding student visas should anticipate increased scrutiny during visa renewals and potential revocations, especially if their academic focus aligns with critical fields or if they have affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party. Currently, the State Department has not defined what areas would be defined as “critical fields” though further guidance may be provided at a later stage.
Foreign officials: Individuals from foreign governments involved in online content moderation or censorship of US citizens may face visa denials or revocations, impacting their ability to travel to the United States.
Vialto will continue to monitor this latest State Department directive and provide guidance as more information becomes available.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Manish Daftari
Partner
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