- China’s education ministry urges students to weigh the risk of studying in the USA against expected visa troubles
- China is the largest source of international students in the USA
- Advisory comes in light of increased instances of visa delays and denials
As of July 2018, there were over 340,000 Chinese students in the USA. The Chinese account for around 32% of the total international student population in the USA. However, that may change quite soon.
On one hand, the US has made it increasingly difficult for Chinese students to get visas to enter the country, and on the other, China recently urged students planning to go abroad to weigh the risk of studying in the USA.
Chinese Student Contribution To The US Economy
8 out of every 10 Chinese students in the USA are enrolled in institutions of higher education. While 32% of Chinese students in the USA are enrolled in a Master’s degree program, 36% are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree.
Most of these students live in New York, California, and other coastal states. In 2018, 42% of all the Chinese students in the USA were living in Vermont, while 40% were in Oregon and Wisconsin.
A large percentage of these students pay full tuition. In some cases, international students must also pay an additional surcharge. Thus, their contribution to the US economy is significant. Many colleges rely on the high tuition fees paid by Chinese students to subsidize tuition for local Americans.
According to the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Chinese students contributed over $13 billion annually to the USA economy. It is interesting to note that international students’ total annual contribution to the US economy is around $37 billion.
Studying In The USA – Visa Restrictions
Visas have become a weapon in the US-China trade war. Chinese students pursuing a course in robotics, aviation, engineering, and hi-tech manufacturing have been facing tighter visa controls.
Whereas earlier a visa was issued for 5 years at a time, students in robotics, aviation, and advanced manufacturing can now get a visa for only 1 year at a time. Additional screening has also made the visa application process longer.
As a result, many Chinese students who were midway through their programs and had gone home were unable to return to the USA to complete their degrees. Instances of visas being denied and canceled have also become more common.
These visa restrictions are not applicable only to students but also to Chinese nationals applying for H1B visas. The H1B is crucial for all international students who want to work in the USA after completing their degrees.
China’s Advice To Students Applying to US Colleges
In light of the difficulty of getting visas and the ongoing trade war between the two countries, China has urged its nationals to think twice before applying to US-based educational institutions.
The country’s education ministry said that students wanting to study in the USA should be prepared to face visa issues and make the necessary arrangements.