Over the past two days, a news story about "U.S. lawmakers proposing a complete ban on Chinese student visas" has sparked concern among Chinese international students.
来源：Fox News
This new bill, introduced by Republican U.S. Representative Riley Moore, aims to "completely ban the issuance of U.S. student visas (F-1 visas) to Chinese citizens to prevent students from stealing American technological and academic secrets."
来源：X
The bill is currently just a proposal and not an enacted law. As is well known, the U.S. legislative process is complex and lengthy, with any proposal needing to pass multiple reviews and approvals before it can become official law.
Congress receives thousands of legislative proposals each year, but only a few hundred become law. Controversial proposals face an even longer and more complicated process.
来源：wiki
Such proposals have surfaced almost every year. Back in 2020, Republican Senator Tom Cotton suggested "banning student visas for Chinese citizens pursuing STEM research in the U.S.," while Senator Rick Scott proposed "freezing student visas for Chinese citizens." However, none of these bills have been enacted into law to date.
来源：bloomberg
来源：nationalinterest
Notably, Tom Cotton, who once boldly claimed "Chinese students should come to the U.S. to study Shakespeare," was also a key figure earlier this year in fiercely opposing an extension of TikTok’s ban deadline, resulting in TikTok being shut down in the U.S. for 14 hours.
Tom Cotton逼问TikTok CEO八次国籍问题受批评
Currently, there are no changes to U.S. student visa policies. American universities have begun addressing the issue, reassuring Chinese students: "Please rest assured, your study abroad plans will not be affected."
波士顿大学最新声明邮件
We urge students and parents to avoid excessive panic or anxiety and not to be swayed by biased content on social media. The recent uproar over the "university travel warnings" should serve as a reminder that "advisory reports ≠ an effective ban."
留学生网友分享1月20日以后正常入境美国
Given the U.S. government’s recent string of funding cuts targeting universities, it’s hard not to suspect this is yet another routine tactic to shift attention by putting "international students" in the spotlight.
来源：X
来源：NPR
The likelihood of this bill passing is extremely low; it’s more likely an attempt to stir public sentiment and serve as self-promotion for lawmakers. Analysts have also pointed out that "trying to cut off Chinese students’ access to American education may not be the best way to solve the problem."
In the face of today’s uncertain international landscape, as international students, we should recognize trends and meet challenges while staying rational and making sound decisions. Lastly, let’s hope we can all work to bring more certainty to an unpredictable globalized world.
