Chinese students say US visa restrictions won’t affect their plans
But the move could push them to other countries, or they may pursue their studies in China, according to education consultants
Chinese students have been caught in the cross hairs of the brewing trade war between Beijing and Washington, but see little impact – at least for the moment – from the United States’ latest policy change to shorten the validity of visas to some Chinese citizens.
While Chinese international students preparing to go to the US to study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields said the changes would not affect their plans, education consultants believe the visa changes may prompt some of them to study elsewhere.
A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Beijing said the maximum validity for a US student visa for Chinese nationals was five years, and the visa application process was unchanged. But she added that consular officers could limit visas on a case-by-case basis.
