Nepal comes right after India and China in US Student Visa Cancellation

 

Nepal comes right after India and China in US Student Visa Cancellation. Bangladesh and South Korea make up the top five countries in the list of students whose visas have been cancelled. Many of these actions are being taken without prior notice, often based on minor legal infractions or vague grounds, leaving thousands of international students suddenly out of status, unable to work, and uncertain about their future in the U.S. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has terminated 4,736 SEVIS records, the majority of which were linked to F-1 visa holders. Yet, only 14 percent of affected students received any formal notice from ICE, all of whom were on OPT. An additional 7 percent received no communication at all—neither from the government nor from their educational institutions.

Main target for the visa cancellations are students who were involved in political protest But some students whose visa have been cancelled had police records such as speeding, parking violations, seat belt violations, failure to yield to emergency vehicles etc. Some have serious crimes such as domestic violence.

Here is a list of countries that have been impacted:

1. India:
   • Number Affected: Approximately 163–164 students (based on AILA’s report of 327 total visa cancellations, with ~50% being Indian).
   • Details: Indian students, the largest international student group in the U.S. (331,602 in 2023–24), have been heavily impacted. 
     
     
2. China:
   • Number Affected: Approximately 45–46 students ( 14% of 327 cases). Additional reports confirm at least 19 students identified by Inside Higher Ed
     
     
   • Details: Chinese students (277,398 in 2023–24) are the second-largest group affected. High-profile cases include a Dartmouth Ph.D. student and an MIT student. Some revocations are linked to minor infractions or unclear reasons.
     
     
3. South Korea:
   • Number Affected: Not explicitly quantified, but  among the 327 cases likely fewer than 10 based on proportional estimates.
     
     
   • Details: South Korean students were mentioned in AILA’s policy brief as part of affected groups, but specific numbers are unavailable.
4. Nepal:
   • Number Affected: Not explicitly quantified, but it falls among “significant” countries and number is likely fewer than 10 based on proportional estimates.
5. Bangladesh:
   • Number Affected: Not explicitly quantified, but it falls among “significant” countries and likely fewer than 10 based on proportional estimates.
     
     
6. Kuwait:
   • Number Affected: At least 5 students (per  review of 515 student records).
     
     
   • Details: Kuwaiti students were identified in the dataset, though reasons for revocation (e.g., minor infractions or protests) were not specified.
7. Saudi Arabia:
   • Number Affected: At least 4 students.
      
8. Japan:
   • Number Affected: At least 3 students .
     
     
9. Turkey:
   • Number Affected: At least 2 students 
     
     
   • Details: Öztürk, a Tufts Ph.D. student, had her visa revoked, allegedly for pro-Palestinian activism. Another Turkish student was noted in data reviews.
10. Colombia:
    • Number Affected: At least 2 students (one high-profile case at the University of Florida).
      
      
    • Details: Felipe Zapata Velázquez was deported after traffic violations, and another Colombian student was part of a lawsuit challenging revocations.
11. Mexico:
    • Number Affected: At least 1 student .
      Details: A Mexican student was included in the legal challenge, with no specific reason for revocation provided.
12. Russia:
    • Number Affected: At least 1 student ,Petrova.
      Details: Petrova’s visa was revoked, possibly due to her opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading to detention and deportation proceedings.
13. Gambia:
    • Number Affected: At least 1 student ,Momodou Taal.
      Details: Taal faced visa issues linked to pro-Palestinian activism and chose to leave voluntarily while his case was pending.