Before you read: Many Hong Kong youth looking to study in the United States have been caught up in the turbulence of the country’s visa changes. In late May, US officials announced they would begin “aggressively” revoking visas issued to Chinese students – but the president has since seemed to reverse course.
Think about it: What would be the impact if the US revoked visas for all international students?
Some Hong Kong students have criticised the erratic changes in US visa policy for Chinese students, warning that the move could deter global talent and ultimately cause the country to lose its edge in innovation.
On May 28, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the government would begin “aggressively” revoking visas issued to Chinese students and increasing scrutiny of future applications from mainland China and Hong Kong.
The administration cited national security concerns, claiming that students and researchers from Chinese institutions could act as spies or facilitate propaganda and intellectual property theft.
But a few weeks later, US President Donald Trump seemed to distance himself from these initiatives by stating his support for Chinese students in America.
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“I’ve always been strongly in favour of it. I think it’s a great thing,” Trump said about Chinese nationals seeking to study in the US.
After suspending new student visa interviews in late May, the US State Department said last week that it would restart the process but would require all applicants to unlock their social media accounts for government review.
Despite the recent change in tone, students are still sceptical of the administration’s long-term priorities.
Like others around the world, many students in Hong Kong hoping to start university in the United States this year have been stuck in limbo.
“For many, this delay [meant] ... putting their dreams on pause or even changing course entirely,” said Mandy*, a secondary school student in Hong Kong.
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The worst part, she said, was not rejection but uncertainty. Mandy described the recent shifts in US policy as a betrayal of the country’s long-standing image as a leader in education and opportunity.
“The bitter irony is that America is voluntarily giving up its position as the world’s top academic beacon,” she said.
“The American dream has literally become an American nightmare.”
She argued that any extra scrutiny for students from Hong Kong and mainland China would be damaging not only to the students affected but to the future of the US.
“For years, Hong Kong students have contributed to American campuses, bringing diversity, fresh ideas and ... [income] in tuition and living expenses,” Mandy said.
“Many stay after graduation to build careers and bridges between Hong Kong and the US, while others return home, bringing valuable knowledge and experiences that help our city grow and connect globally.”
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In the academic year 2023-24, more than 277,000 Chinese citizens were studying in the US – accounting for nearly 25 per cent of all international students in the United States, according to the US State Department’s Open Doors report.
China had long been the country’s largest source of international students and was only recently overtaken by India. Chinese students have been praised for their contributions to research, industry and university revenue.
A Year Nine student, who preferred to use only her given name, Tiffany, said these moves were “highly harmful” to US innovation and diplomacy, saying students were unfairly caught in the geopolitical crossfire.
“Alienating Chinese students further fuels political tensions and discourages collaboration,” said the 14-year-old student at an international school in Hong Kong. “It’s also counterproductive to legitimate security concerns ... as it only fosters mistrust and potential retaliation.”
Tiffany cautioned that the recent visa volatility could backfire on the US by pushing top talent to countries like the United Kingdom and Canada.
“[It] doesn’t just mean losing brilliant minds,” she said, “but also losing technological progress and ... economic contributions.”
* Name changed at interviewee’s request.
