The Associated Press reported that following a statement made on Friday, April 25th, thousands of F-1 visa cancellations have been reversed for U.S. international students.
Previous reports by the union show that an unidentified El Camino University student’s F-1 visa has been revoked during spring break. It is unclear whether the student visa has been revived.
“The initial response is shock and fear for us. But our students are not immigrant students. They are F-1 visa students, not immigrants. They are legally there to study here and return to their home country.”
Luckman said the F-1 visa allows international students to study in the United States, and that position is a condition they will retain after they arrive in the country.
A visa is a paper travel document embedded in a traveler’s passport.
“If your visa is revoked, it doesn’t mean your status has been revoked, you can go to university. But once they leave the US, the visa is an entry document so you won’t be able to return.
As reported on Friday, April 25th, student and exchange visitor information systems (SEVIS) records have been restored to the institution after more than 1,200 international students recovered.
The US State Department has begun revoking F-1 visas, following the Trump administration’s executive orders starting in January, followed by the Trump administration’s executive orders regarding domestic visa applicants and current students.
The union spoke to students from the ECC International Student Program.
“I feel bad because I am trying to express myself to (students) and speak up for their rights, so I feel bad. That’s how I feel right now,” said the international student who asked me to remain anonymous. “We pay a lot of high fees, but if we are at risk of losing our status, it’s not worth it.”
International students said that F-1 visa application is a six-month process. The visa is first requested at the US embassy, and then requires evidence of English proficiency and bank statements to prove the tuition fees and US cost of living.
Students can then apply to schools approved by any student and exchange visitor program.
Summer Kennedy, student services specialist at ECC, said enrollment in the program has been significantly reduced since Covid-19.
“Before the pandemic, we were picking up numbers,” Kennedy said.
Luckman said international students are shifting away from studying in the US.
“Students decide not to apply to the US instead and go to various countries (such as), including Canada, Australia, the UK, other European and Asian countries,” Luckman said.
One ECC international student feels that uncertainty is in the US and thinks he is studying in another country.
“We were actually looking for a variety of options. We might want to move to Canada instead. Being under this administration in the US is not the safest for international students, and not for everyone,” the student said.
Another anonymous student expresses surprise at the situation.
“I was really surprised at the cancellation of my student visa,” the second anonymous student said. “As one of many international students in the US, I know why they came to the US and what they are looking for in this country. I sincerely hope that they will end this situation and help them achieve their dreams.”
Rachman emphasizes the importance of following the laws of F-1 Visa students. Students who break the law or commit criminal acts are at risk of losing their visas.
“Today, it’s much more serious. It’s more scary than before, it’s visa vs status, it’s a complicated issue. Each situation depends on what the students did and what their stories are,” Luckman said. “We still live in democracy. It’s a country of law and they still have to follow rules and regulations.”
Luckman said there are fewer people enrolled in universities and universities, and international students will fill classroom spots where there are not enough students.
“International students are extremely important because they provide diversity, funding in schools and get seated in classrooms,” he said.
F-1 Visa students can transfer schools with the condition that they perform well, meet with an academic counselor, and take the correct class for their academic planning.
“I don’t feel that it will affect my (withdrawal) transfer plan, but it is one of the potential obstacles and could ruin my plans,” the second anonymous student said.
The International Student Program sends communications via telephone and email, hosts workshops and Zoom meetings to fully inform students about visa revocation.
Students can visit the program’s website and directly access the office on the first floor of the Student Services Building for more information.
