Washington D.C., May 29, 2025: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the United States will begin revoking visas issued to Chinese students, particularly targeting those affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party or engaged in critical fields of study.
Rubio further disclosed that the U.S. Department of State plans to revise visa application criteria to implement enhanced scrutiny for all future visa requests originating from China and Hong Kong. This initiative aims to address national security concerns and ensure rigorous evaluation of applicants.
According to data from the Institute of International Education, China represented the second-largest source of international students in the U.S. during the 2023/2024 academic year, with a total enrollment of 277,398 students.
Recent reports indicate that the Department of State has temporarily suspended new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants from these regions. This move aligns with ongoing efforts initiated during the previous administration to conduct more comprehensive social media vetting and increase visa revocation and deportation processes related to foreign students.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not yet provided an official response to the announcement.
