After the Trump administration revoked more than 6,000 student visas since the Spring, international students say they’re entering the school year with caution.
This Spring, student visa applications were in flux. The U.S. Department of State in May suspended appointments for student, vocational or professional training, and exchange visitor visas — also known as F, M and J visas, respectively.
The decision was made after the Trump administration began taking an increasingly stricter approach to immigration. Less than a month later, on June 18, appointments resumed, reported Forbes.
The change provoked criticism from the UF community, which hosts more than 6,000 students studying under those visas.
Axel Nguyen, an 18-year-old UF information systems and operations management freshman, said the change took an emotional toll on him. He was excited to start classes, only to find himself in a predicament when he couldn’t apply for a visa in June when applications were suspended.
“My family and everybody else was scared, because we didn’t know when [the visa] would be reinstated,” Nguyen said.
As a first-year student, starting classes as soon as possible was crucial for Nguyen so he could enroll in his necessary prerequisite courses. Regarding the May suspension, the Vietnamese student said that he feared his visa process may be delayed longer, which would force him to postpone beginning classes by a semester or a year.
After all the changes, the current situation makes appointments for student visas available.
The State Department now requires all visa applicants to have public social media accounts, which agents will vet to identify ideologies that could be regarded as hostile to the U.S. Failure to comply may result in immediate denial.
The program, the State Department says, aims to filter out candidates who could “pose a threat” to the United States.
“There’s now an unspoken rule that if you want your F-1 visa approved, you should basically stay silent on social media,” Nguyen said.
Meanwhile, valid visas remain subject to revocation. According to Reuters, 4,000 visas have been canceled after arrests were made on charges such as assault, driving under the influence, and theft. Another 200 to 300 were revoked for alleged ties to terrorism or terrorist organizations.
Ana Lucia Gonzalez, an international UF psychology junior , said she must “be much more careful” this school year to avoid any miscommunications with the law.
Gonzalez is pursuing a master’s degree to become a neuroscientist. But the Costa Rican student said she doubts that goal will be possible, given the shifting state of visa renewal rules.
Despite all the changes, some international students remain optimistic. Salma Hage, a biomedical engineering freshman from the Dominican Republic, said she felt “very lucky” her visa was not denied.
But Hage admitted it’s difficult to stay positive.
She advised her peers facing the same situation to stay updated on their status and ensure they are following all visa rules, which can be verified with advisors at UF’s International Center.
“I don’t want to be forced to leave. I want to finish my degree,” Hage said.
Contact Sofia at salamo@alligator.org. Follow her on X @alamosofiaa.
