Lainey, a 24-year-old sociology postgraduate from Beijing, is stuck in limbo. After being accepted into her dream PhD program at the University of California, she now finds herself anxiously
awaiting a restart of the U.S. visa process, delayed under Washington’s tightened restrictions on Chinese students.
“We feel helpless,” said Lainey, who asked that her surname not be published. “There’s really nothing we can do. The visa policies this year haven’t been good for us. We just have to wait.”
The U.S. State Department recently reinforced its stance against what it describes as Beijing’s abuse of American universities and theft of research and intellectual property. Without providing specifics, spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the administration would now "aggressively" revoke visas as part of a broader crackdown.
This latest move targets Chinese international students—who represent about one in four of all international students in the U.S.—and comes amid a broader hardline immigration agenda. The policy shift could have a wide-reaching impact, especially on universities and technology firms that rely on international talent. Chinese nationals alone make up 16% of all graduate students in STEM fields across the U.S.
Enrollment plans in doubt
Compounding the issue, U.S. embassies and consulates have suspended appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants. Lainey, like many others, is now considering deferring her studies by a year.
“People often say the U.S. admissions system is biased against Chinese students, but it’s still the best academically,” she said. “Still, I might apply elsewhere—Europe, Hong Kong, or Singapore.”
The visa restrictions are being seen as a consequence of the broader U.S.–China geopolitical rift, which includes an ongoing trade war. China’s state-run Global Times sharply criticized the measures, calling them reminiscent of “McCarthyism” and describing them as an “educational witch-hunt.”
The editorial argued that suppressing Chinese students had become a key element of Washington’s strategy to curb China’s rise.
Long-term impacts
Beyond the immediate disruption, experts warn of long-term consequences for the U.S. education system and economy. International students—more than half of them from China and India—contributed over $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to the Commerce Department.
“If I have to wait until 2026 to reapply, I probably won’t feel the same about the U.S. anymore,” said Lainey. “If I can’t even get a visa, I’ll have no choice but to study elsewhere.” Photo by Krokodyl, Wikimedia commons.
