On Thursday, May 29, ISSS Director Martin McFarlane sent the following message to to all active F-1 and J-1 international students from China and Hong Kong:
Dear Students,
On Wednesday evening, the U.S. Department of State released a press statement outlining the federal government’s intention to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields” as well as “revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.” This is a deeply unsettling announcement, and while we have no further information about the proposed actions outlined in this statement, we are reaching out to make you aware of this information and provide details regarding how ISSS is monitoring this issue.
ISSS carefully monitors and reviews immigration and visa policies impacting the international students, scholars, employees, and dependents we serve. When necessary, we make sure to quickly and widely share updates to ensure that our international community is aware of any new information that may impact them.
ISSS also regularly monitors the SEVIS immigration status of all students. When a status is terminated for any reason, ISSS directly communicates with the individual to provide details and options specific to the individual’s unique situation. If you have concerns about your status, please know that if there is any change you will be contacted.
We will seek clarification on all recent announcements and engage in a thorough analysis so we can determine the most appropriate ways to move forward. We will promptly communicate with you about pertinent updates as they become available.
We understand how distressing these reports are, and we continue to encourage you to look after your personal and mental well-being by utilizing our many campus resources.
Our international students are deeply valued members of our international community. You are an important and needed part of our community, and we are grateful you are here.