Trump welcomed 600,000 Chinese students to US universities, calling insulting restrictions. Days later, however, his administration proposed stricter limits on student, exchange, and media visas, complicating international student access.
On August 26, Trump announced at a White House cabinet meeting that 600,000 Chinese students would be admitted to American universities. “To say we can’t let students come here is deeply insulting,” he said. “I’d love to see their students come, and I welcome students from other countries.” The New York Times reported that extending admissions invitations to international students at this time was somewhat delayed. With the fall semester approaching at many American schools, this announcement appears to contradict the administration’s previous restrictions on students, including those from China. Earlier this year, the Trump administration pledged to implement stricter vetting procedures for international students. Subsequently, reports emerged that student visa interview appointments for students from countries like China, India, Nigeria, and Japan were difficult or impossible to schedule. Trump administration officials have singled out Chinese students as a potential national security threat.
On August 29, the White House proposed new regulations, imposing stricter visa restrictions on international students, cultural exchange visitors, and media personnel, marking the latest move to tighten immigration policy. Under the proposal, F student visas, J cultural exchange visas, and I media visas, which previously lasted until the end of their program or their employment in the United States, would be changed to fixed-term visas. The new regulations mandate that student and exchange visas be valid for no more than four years, while media personnel visas are limited to a maximum of 240 days, with visas for Chinese journalists extending to just 90 days. Visa holders would need to apply for an extension to remain in the United States, a stark contrast to the current, relatively flexible system. The Trump administration stated that the changes were intended to better “monitor and oversee” visa holders in the United States.
Source: AP News , The Guardian