Japanese Students Express Concern Over Halt to U.S. Student Visa Interviews

May 29 (News On Japan) - Concerns are growing among Japanese students following reports that the U.S. government under the Trump administration has ordered a halt to new bookings for student visa interviews, potentially impacting those planning to study in the United States.

On May 27th, the American news outlet Politico reported that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had instructed U.S. embassies worldwide to suspend the acceptance of new interview appointments for student visas.

According to the report, the U.S. State Department is considering expanding its screening procedures for student visa applicants, including reviews of their social media activity, in a bid to clamp down on behavior it deems antisemitic. Until new screening methods are established, embassies are to suspend new interview reservations.

State Department spokesperson Miller said, "We place high importance on the process of screening individuals entering the country, and we intend to continue doing so."

While the spokesperson did not confirm the details of the report, they emphasized that "regardless of whether someone is a student or not, we will continue to use every available means to assess individuals seeking entry."

If this policy is enacted, new reservations for student visa interviews would no longer be accepted in Japan either. Japanese students have begun voicing concern.

A graduate student at the University of Tokyo said, "I’m thinking of studying abroad, possibly in the U.S. Their legal studies are more advanced, after all. Losing this opportunity would hinder our academic growth, so this is a serious issue for students."

An undergraduate student at the University of Tokyo, who plans to study in the U.K. from September, commented, "Even when I was considering study abroad options, the Trump administration was already in place. Given how it affects international students, I didn’t consider the U.S. too seriously. This will only further weaken the academic competitiveness of American universities and put them at a disadvantage."

Source: TBS

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