On April 26, the U.S. Department of State issued the latest notice:
Chinese students holding valid F-1 or M-1 visas, with programs starting after August 1, will no longer be subject to the U.S. "travel ban" and can fly directly from China to the United States.
Students who have a valid F-1 or M-1 visa and are starting or continuing their studies after August 1 may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before their program begins.
This means that students who wish to return to the U.S. this fall will no longer need to transit through a third country and can now fly directly. Of course, if you do not currently have a U.S. visa, you still need to apply at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
This announcement shows that the collective pressure from various sectors in the U.S. has led to significant progress. It is believed that F-1 visa processing will be effectively resolved soon.
With U.S. universities resuming in-person instruction this fall and students preparing to return to campus, do you want the latest F-1 visa updates and to coordinate flights back with classmates?
U.S. Universities Want to Ensure Chinese Students Can Return for the Fall Semester
Recently, the presidents of 17 universities in the New York area, including Columbia University, New York University, and Cornell University, jointly wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, urging the U.S. government to:
Take immediate action to resume visa services, consider lifting the travel ban for international students, and ensure that they can successfully return to campus for the fall semester.
Harvard University's president also urged the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to streamline the F-1 visa process for international students and help them enroll on time this fall. It is worth noting that U.S. embassies and consulates in China have suspended F-1 student visa processing for over 13 months!
Given that U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide are operating at reduced capacity or remain closed, universities planning for in-person fall instruction have recognized the urgency and are working to help international students resolve the F-1 visa issue promptly.
U.S. Universities Resume In-Person Classes
Most U.S. universities have already announced plans to resume in-person instruction in the fall.
New York University, Cornell University, Rutgers University, and several others have announced that students will be required to be vaccinated before returning to campus.
The 10-campus University of California system on the West Coast has already decided to help nearly 300,000 students return to campus this fall.
U.S. universities are very confident about resuming in-person instruction in fall 2021, largely thanks to the nationwide effort to administer vaccines.
With the Student Travel Ban Lifted, Will Visas Be Next?
The American Council on Education (ACE) petitioned the U.S. government as early as March, hoping they would take swift steps to help international students return to campus this fall.
In March, aviation and tourism industry leaders—including U.S. airlines, the U.S. Travel Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—also co-signed a letter urging the Biden administration to draft a plan within five weeks to lift a year-long restriction on international travel.
China and the U.S. have also recently discussed travel and visa matters during the Anchorage talks, indicating mutual commitment to normalizing travel between the two countries.
The entry issue for international students has now been effectively addressed. With ongoing pressure from universities and various stakeholders, it is believed that visa issues—which many are also concerned about—will be resolved quickly.
We hope that the pandemic era will soon be behind us, that everything will return to normal, and that we can all have a real campus experience once again.
CheersYou（清柚教育） will continue to follow up on relevant policy updates and bring you the latest news.
