Hong Kong students aiming for US universities in limbo as visa interviews halted

Hongkongers looking to pursue tertiary education in the US are grappling with uncertainties as the country has halted scheduling student visa interviews, with consultancies expecting possible online class arrangements for remote learning or university applicants changing their choice of destination.

Kitty Wu, director of Litz USA Student Service, a Hong Kong-based education consultancy specialising in education in America since 1989, said on Wednesday that her company had experienced difficulties in scheduling interviews last week and could not make any reservations on Tuesday, hours before the US government order was reported later that night.

According to a diplomatic cable on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed America’s embassies and consulates worldwide to stop scheduling student visa interviews as the Trump administration considered more expansive social media vetting of applicants.

Wu noted that social media screening had started earlier, with applicants required to leave their usernames for the consulate’s inspection.

Students still had time to settle their visa applications before the academic year started in September, she said, but only if the scheduling of visa interviews was resumed swiftly.

“If students cannot receive their visa on time, I believe some schools will arrange online programmes,” Wu said, noting that institutions also held virtual classes during the Covid-19 pandemic.