Visa stop for student exchanges: worries about stays abroad in NRW!

Visa stop for student exchanges: worries about stays abroad in NRW!

Insecurity among young people planning to stay abroad in the USA is increasing. The Trump administration has decided to stop issuing visas for student exchanges, study visits or au pair programs for the time being. The reason for this decision is stricter checks on the social media accounts of visa applicants, with a particular focus on pro-Palestinian statements. This measure has consequences particularly for schoolchildren and students from North Rhine-Westphalia and worldwide who had already made concrete plans. [WDR] reports that the US government claims that anti-Semitism is widespread at US universities, but provides no evidence of this.

A student named Angelina from the Siegburg vocational college recently expressed her concerns about her planned trips to the USA. With the aim of studying in the USA after graduating from high school, she has already booked an internship in a month. However, the application for the ESTA travel authorization for your short stay is still pending. WDR points out that the US authorities have not published any detailed regulations on the currently applicable visa ban, which creates additional uncertainty.

US Government Responses and Instructions

As [Tagesschau] reports, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed embassies and consulates not to make new appointments for applicants for student and exchange visas for the time being. This instruction aims to expand the verification of applicants' statements on social networks before their entry. Basically, visas in categories F, M and J, which are intended for students, exchange students and au pairs, are affected. US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce also commented on the seriousness of these checks to ensure that travelers understand the law and do not have criminal intent.

However, existing visas for programs that have already been approved remain valid. Constanze Sietz from Travelworks emphasizes that the visa process itself has not been completely suspended. However, she recommends checking social media posts in particular, especially those that relate to Israel and the Middle East conflict. Exchange organizations therefore specifically sensitize schoolchildren and students to their online presence. Despite the uncertainty, some students have already changed their travel plans and are leaning towards destinations in Europe or Canada.

Difficulties in rescheduling

Changing destinations often presents a significant challenge, as many students have already established personal relationships with host families and schools in the United States. Sietz currently sees no reason to actively recommend a change, as many are still hoping for the situation to be clarified.

The U.S. government's actions not only foster an atmosphere of fear among international students, but also raise questions about freedom of expression and student rights. Previous statements from U.S. government officials suggest that even student visa and green card holders face deportations for pro-Palestinian support. A Turkish student at Tufts University was held in detention pending deportation for more than six weeks after she criticized the university's stance on the Gaza conflict. The dispute between the Trump administration and high-profile institutions like Harvard shows how heated the debate over pro-Palestinian demonstrations is.