LPY Law Group

The recent announcement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the aggressive revocation of visas for certain Chinese students has understandably raised concerns within the international student community. This policy reportedly targets students with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in unspecified “critical fields.” Given that there are approximately 280,000 Chinese students currently studying in the United States, this development could have broad implications.

Understanding Visa Revocation vs. Immigration Status

It’s important to distinguish between a visa and immigration status, as they serve different functions in U.S. immigration law:

On July 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security expanded the STEM Designated Degree Program List by incorporating eight additional fields of study. F-1 nonimmigrant students who successfully complete specific programs in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) now have the opportunity to apply for a twenty-four-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training.

The last update to the STEM list by DHS was documented in the Federal Register on January 21, 2022. This publication outlined the procedure for interested parties to propose the inclusion or removal of specific fields of study from the STEM list.