According to recent reports, the US government has canceled visas for over 6,000 international students. BBC reports that the main reasons for the decision are staying in the country after the visa expired, various legal violations, and participation in dangerous activities.
According to the data, about 4,000 canceled visas are related to criminal acts — assaults, drunk driving, theft, and other offenses. In addition, 200–300 visas were canceled due to involvement in terrorist activities that threaten human life or violate US law.
The decision was made during the Trump administration when control over international students increased. Although officials did not fully disclose the concept of aiding terrorism, it was reported that actions of some students who held demonstrations supporting Palestine were considered anti-Semitic.
Moreover, visa interviews at US embassies for students were temporarily suspended. Once resumed, applicants will be required to show their social media accounts openly. This measure is intended to identify persons who pose a threat to national security or support terrorist groups.
According to Open Doors, in the 2023/2024 academic year, more than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries studied in the United States. This accounts for approximately 6% of the total student population. Experts believe these measures may affect the international student flow and US university admission policies.
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