News reports indicate that the Trump administration is planning to cancel the visas of thousands of Chinese graduate students whom the administration believes have ties to the Chinese military.

Few details about the plan are available at this time, but it appears likely that the initial push would target a small fraction of the overall number of Chinese F-1 visa holders in the United States. It is not clear at this time whether additional vetting may be imposed at U.S. consulates for Chinese students looking to come to the U.S.

An official announcement is expected soon. While the administration has broad authority to cancel or revoke visas, doing so may not directly impact the ability of individuals already in the country to work and study in the U.S., as long as they do not leave the country. BAL will continue to follow this matter and will provide additional information to clients as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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