US DOS Announces Additional Vetting of Visas for Chinese Students

in Immigration Actions Trump 2.0
May 29th, 2025

The US Department of State (DOS) has issued a press release stating they may work with the Department of Homeland Security to revoke visas for some Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in critical fields. DOS states they intend to revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. DOS has issued no guidance as to:

1. how they will act on this new initiative
2. what might be considered a critical field, or
3. what criteria they will review to determine visa eligibility.

Students are reminded that a visa is an entry document that helps you seek entry to the US in a particular category and that visas often expire while you are in the US. The visa does not determine your lawful status or how long you can remain in the US. Therefore, a visa revocation while you are already inside the US, does NOT require you to depart the US. If you receive notice of a visa revocation, you are urged to Report a Visa Revocation through the ISSOPortal and contact your ISSO advisor to strategize options.

We will continue to seek clarity and update our community when more details become available.