Vietnamese Students at Harvard: Confused, Preparing Backup Plans

The US government's ban on Harvard University from issuing J and F visas to international students and scholars has caused confusion for more than 10,000 people in the international community at Harvard, including Vietnamese international students, as well as students who have just received admission letters.

Some other university leaders also see the federal government's decision as alarming for higher and graduateeducation in the United States.

Many of us have worked our whole lives to get into a university like Harvard, and now we have to wait and see if we have to transfer schools and run into visa problems.

Karl Molden, 3rd year student from Austria

Tensions Escalate Between the US Government and Harvard University

On May 22, the US government suspended Harvard University's international student enrollment by revoking Harvard University's accreditation for its Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Specifically, the US Department of Homeland Security stated in a statement that "Harvard can no longer enroll international students and current international students must transfer or lose their legal status (in the US)."

International students make up more than 25% of the total number of students enrolled at Harvard University. That is why Harvard University's lawsuit states "Harvard is no longer Harvard without international students."

Photo: Trong Phuoc

Less than 24 hours later, Harvard filed a countersuit asking the court to temporarily halt the government’s decision. Harvard President Alan Garber announced that the Boston federal court had granted Harvard’s request to continue enrolling international students and scholars while the case was being heard, and set a hearing for May 29.

In the lawsuit, Harvard University stated that the school has recruited international students and scholars for more than 70 years, but "with just a stroke of a pen" the government sought to wipe out a quarter of the school's student body, that is, international students.

"Harvard is no longer Harvard without international students"

According to Harvard University's 2024-2025 data, the school has nearly 7,000 international students from 140 countries and territories, accounting for more than 25% of the total number of enrolled students. Including scholars and researchers, Harvard University's international community exceeds 10,000 people. That is why Harvard University's lawsuit has the sentence "Harvard is no longer Harvard without international students" and has been widely quoted by the American and international press.

Sharing with Thanh Nien , a Vietnamese international student at Harvard who requested anonymity said he felt a bit worried after receiving the news, but was not too surprised because the government had threatened him in advance. "I and many other international students were quite anxious and confused because the school did not take any action or give any instructions to the students all afternoon and night on Thursday (the day the decision was made). It was not until the next morning that the school sent an email stating that a lawsuit had been filed," the international student said. He said he had considered a number of backup plans such as transferring to another school or waiting to see if the school had an online support plan or a "gap year". In addition, according to Harvard's instructions, he would also be more careful about what he said online and in groups, avoid negative comments about the government, limit his travel outside the US until graduation, carry all necessary documents at all times, and avoid breaking the law.

Similarly, L., another international student, shared that he currently feels quite nervous because the Trump administration and Harvard University have had many conflicts recently. For L., he feels scared because he does not know how the new regulations (if any) will change and what he has to do. L. plans to continue researching and studying according to the school's progress. In addition, L. will limit his travel within the US and be more vigilant about incidents that may occur.

Both are quite confident in Harvard's ability to protect students and win the lawsuit, but there are also backup plans mentioned above. They said that the Vietnamese international student community at Harvard is very active in sharing and encouraging each other to overcome this difficult time. One of the two students shared that "in the case of Vietnamese international students preparing to re-enter the US, they also divide up to monitor, in case of difficulty entering the country and having their phones confiscated, they can immediately contact the school and the Vietnamese representative agency in the US for help". In addition, these two students also advised each other not to react immediately but to wait for the main moves from the school.

Some other Vietnamese students at Harvard refused to be interviewed because the case was too quick and not official. You will wait for official information from the school and professors.

Harvard University is considered a symbol of American education globally, helping America attract talent from all over the world.

Photo: Trong Phuoc

International students are in a state of uncertainty.

Shortly after the US government's ban, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) issued a notice inviting international students who are currently studying or have received an offer from Harvard to study at HKUST. The notice reads: "The school will issue unconditional offers, with simplified admission procedures, and academic support to facilitate an easy transition for interested students."

Harvard Student Association Co-President Abdullah Shahid Sial, a Pakistani, told CNN that international students are uncertain and "extremely scared" because they don't know their legal status. Sial said some students as young as teens have faced similar situations thousands of miles away from home. "Many of us have worked our whole lives to get to a university like Harvard, and now we have to wait and see if we have to transfer schools and face visa problems," said Karl Molden, a junior from Austria. Alid Akef, a PhD student from Egypt, told NBC Boston that his wife is on a J2 visa (usually following a spouse on a J1 visa) and is pregnant. So the situation is overwhelming for him, but he still believes Harvard will protect international students.

Among the international students at Harvard are a few notable figures, such as Princess Elisabeth, 23, the future queen of Belgium. The Belgian royal palace spokeswoman, Lore Vandoorne, said the princess had just completed the first year of a two-year master's degree in public policy and the royal family was investigating the situation regarding her continued studies.

Letter from Harvard University's Office of International Student Support

Photo: DU

Is the same scenario happening to other universities?

In another letter to students, Harvard President called the U.S. government's decision "unlawful and unjustified" and "threatens the future" of thousands of Harvard students and scholars. He also said it should serve as a warning to countless other international students at colleges and universities across the country who "have come to the United States to pursue their education and realize their dreams." The question is whether the same situation will happen to other universities.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) President Sally Kornbluth wrote a statement on MIT's website calling the federal government's actions "devastating to American excellence, openness, and creativity. This is an alarming moment." In addition, Wendy Hensel, President of the University of Hawaiʻi system, in a letter to students and staff said that the Trump administration's revocation of Harvard's international student admissions is "impacting the entire American higher (and graduate) education system."

Therefore, Mr. John Aubrey Douglass, senior researcher at the Center for Higher Education Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, commented that although Harvard is a victim of this moment, this is an unprecedented warning from a federal government to impact the autonomy of all major universities in the US.

International students contribute billions of dollars to the US economy.

The Open Doors 2024 report on international educational exchange has announced that the total number of international students at US colleges and universities has reached an all-time high of more than 1.1 million students in 2023 and 2024. This is an increase of 7% over the previous academic year.

International students not only contribute their academic and athletic talents to their schools, but also contribute billions of dollars to the economy across the United States. Specifically, according to NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, 1.1 million international students at US colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy in the 2023-2024 academic year and supported more than 378,000 jobs. Ms. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, called these contributions "significant and diverse".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sinh-vien-viet-nam-tai-harvard-hoang-mang-chuan-bi-phuong-an-du-phong-185250526103603259.htm