MSU warns international students to stay in US after visa interviews paused

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MSU warns international students to stay in US after visa interviews paused

EAST LANSING ― Michigan State University is warning its more than 4,000 international students to not go home this summer as President Donald Trump’s administration increases efforts to

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in the country.

MSU’s Office for International Students and Scholars Director Krista McCallum Beatty wrote in a letter to international students that the guidance followed the U.S. Department of State’s decision to temporarily pause visa interviews.

The pause will have an impact on the length of time needed to process visa applications, she wrote.

In the letter, McCallum Beatty “strongly advised” international students who are still in the U.S. to stay. For those outside the U.S. who need a visa to return, she wrote they should stay in close contact with the U.S. embassy or consulate handling their case.

Trump’s administration has advised embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new appointments for

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, as the State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students, Reuters reported in May. However, existing scheduled appointments should still proceed as planned, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an internal cable obtained by Reuters.

It’s not clear what the university can or will do to help the international students stay in the U.S. MSU spokesperson Amber McCann did not immediately respond to questions from the State Journal or make McCallum Beatty or other OISS administrators available.

“I understand that this news and the uncertainty surrounding it may be frustrating,” McCallum Beatty wrote. “Please know that MSU remains strongly committed to our international Spartan community. We will continue to welcome students and scholars from around the world, and we will advocate policies that support your presence and success.”

MSU has about 4,400 international students, including 2,200 undergraduate international students, a fall 2024 enrollment report from MSU showed. The number of international students at MSU has declined steadily since 2015, when the university had more than 7,500 international students, including 4,700 from China.

******** students targeted by U.S.

On May 28, Rubio announced the United States will be “

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studying in the U.S., including those with “connections to the ******** ********** Party or studying in critical fields.”

He added that the State Department will be revising visa criteria to enhance “scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.

Student enrollment counts show that more than 1,000 of MSU’s 4,400 international students, or about 23%, are from China.

A ******** student who attended the University of Michigan was

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and then fled the country one day before Trump became president, according to a criminal complaint filed June 3 in U.S. District Court. He is sought by the FBI.

Also on June 3, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon said in a news release that two other ******** citizens were accused of

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a ******* that causes a disease in wheat, barley, maize and rice so that one of them could research the pathogen at a University of Michigan lab, where one of them works.

Visas and other records terminated

There are two factors to consider when it comes to international students, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Senior Managing Attorney Ruby Robinson told the State Journal in April. Their visa, which is issued by the State Department, and their student status, which is monitored by the Department of Homeland Security.

Robinson said he suspected that some international students’ visas are being revoked and their statuses are being terminated at the same time. As university officials do routine checks of SEVIS, they’re likely finding students’ statuses have been terminated, he said.

Rubio has said that there is 

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, but rather it is a privilege that can be revoked, especially if the students are involved in any kind of violations of the law. Robinson pushed back on this to the State Journal, and said it raised questions of due process.

At least 12 international students at MSU had their visas revoked or SEVIS status terminated and were later reinstated, McCann confirmed.

Full letter to MSU’s international students

“We are writing with an important update following reports that the U.S Department of State has temporarily paused visa interviews for international students and scholars planning to study in the United States. This decision will have an impact on the processing timeline for visa applications. The Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) will provide updates as new information becomes available.

“For students and scholars outside the U.S.: If you are currently outside the United States and need a visa to return, please remain in close contact with the U.S. embassy or consulate handling your case. Our current understanding is that previously scheduled visa interview appointments will proceed as planned. However, most embassies and consulates have suspended scheduling new appointments.

“Individuals with a valid F or J visa stamp are eligible to re-enter the United States with their valid visa stamp. In case you are concerned about the validity of your visa, you can check the status of your current visa stamp by visiting this website.

“Please note that ********* citizens are not required to have an F or J visa stamp

“For students and scholars inside the U.S.: We strongly advise that you do not travel outside the United States.

“Please continue to monitor the Immigration Alerts page on the OISS website for important immigration information and updates and contact OISS with any questions.

“I understand that this news and the uncertainty surrounding it may be frustrating. Please know that MSU remains strongly committed to our international Spartan community. We will continue to welcome students and scholars from around the world, and we will advocate policies that support your presence and success.

“I understand that this news and the uncertainty surrounding it may be frustrating. Please know that MSU remains strongly committed to our international Spartan community. We will continue to welcome students and scholars from around the world, and we will advocate policies that support your presence and success.

“Kind Regards,

Krista McCallum Beatty, PhD Director “

Reuters reporter Humeyra Pamuk and USA TODAY Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy reporter contributed. Contact Sarah Atwood at *****@*****.tld. Follow her on X @sarahmatwood.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal:

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#MSU #warns #international #students #stay #visa #interviews #paused

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