The US stops issuing new student visas, many Vietnamese students are 'like birds with broken nests'

For Vietnamese students who dream of studying abroad, the news that the US has stopped scheduling interviews for new student visas has left many people in a state of confusion.

Tran Khanh Linh, a 12th grader in Hanoi , received acceptance letters to two universities in Massachusetts, USA, in April this year. After months of hard work, studying all night to pass the SAT and IELTS, as well as perfecting her essay and racing against application deadlines, Khanh Linh thought the hardest part was over.

However, when it comes to the visa application stage - the final step in the study abroad journey, everything suddenly becomes more stressful than ever. The news that the US has temporarily stopped scheduling interviews for new student visas since May 27 spread quickly in the international student community, causing female students in Hanoi to fall into a state of panic.

"I'm counting down the days until the fall semester, but now I can't get a visa. After years of trying, now I'm stuck right at the door of the plane," the female student said, disappointed.

Vietnamese students are "sitting on hot coals" as the US temporarily suspends student visa interviews. (Illustration photo: US Embassy)

The pressure from family expectations, the worry of being late for school, the fear of losing a scholarship, and the feeling of being left behind as her peers began preparing to fly abroad, all blended into a storm of emotions. For the past two days, Khanh Linh has not been able to sleep, as if sitting on a bed of fire, always holding her phone to update information every hour, every minute, no longer having the mind to prepare for the upcoming high school graduation exam.

According to a May 27 dispatch, the US State Department requested that US embassies and consulates worldwide temporarily suspend scheduling new interviews for all foreign students who want to apply for student visas in the US. The dispatch also noted that cases that have been scheduled for interviews in advance can continue as originally planned.

"Effective immediately. In preparation for the expansion of mandatory social media screening and checks, consular sections are not to schedule any new student or exchange visa appointments (F, M, and J) until further guidance is provided," Politico, Guardian, and NBC quoted the State Department 's text as saying.

Doan Quang Minh, a student at Phenikaa University, has just over 3 months left until the Fall semester - the biggest admissions season of the year in the US. This sudden interruption is like a brake that has shaken all of his plans.

"The temporary suspension of student visas could affect millions of international students, including Vietnamese students. We have already gone 90% of the way, now only needing a visa to study in the US, but it is stuck at the most important moment ," Quang Minh worried.

Many of the male student's friends began to consider backup plans, such as applying to other countries to avoid the risk of delaying their studies abroad. However, for Quang Minh, who had placed all his hopes on the US, the worry was even greater. "I don't have a plan B. I've decided to go to the US from the beginning, so now I'm really confused," the male student shared.

How long is the suspension of new US student visas?

In response to the wave of anxiety from students and parents about the US temporarily suspending student visa interviews, a representative of the Summit Study Abroad Consulting Center said that, in essence, this is a technical adjustment to increase security monitoring for international students globally, not just in Vietnam.

"The temporary suspension of visa interview appointments is to update the review system according to new screening requirements, especially regarding more thorough social media and personal background checks. This is not the first time this has happened and will not last too long. After completing the review process, the visa interview process will return to normal ," a representative of the Summit Study Abroad Consulting Center analyzed.

Summit’s team of experts is currently following updates from the US Embassy and Consulate to support students. Students who have prepared their documents, or have been issued an I-20 from schools in the US, should calmly wait for the latest instructions, while maintaining the initiative in checking visa schedules and updating emails regularly.

According to a report by the American Institute of International Education, in the 2023-2024 school year, the US will receive more than 1 million students from more than 200 countries and territories. This number increased by about 6.6% compared to the previous school year, contributing about 50 billion USD to the economy. Of which, the number of Vietnamese students is 22,066.

Kim Nhung

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/my-dung-cap-moi-visa-du-hoc-nhieu-hoc-sinh-viet-nhu-chim-vo-to-ar945665.html