Story perspectives

Expanded U.S. Background Checks Delay Chinese Visa Students Months

9/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. immigration officials have applied expanded background checks to Chinese visa applicants, causing delays.
Applicants may be required to submit additional documents and undergo extra security reviews.
Ray Zhou, a Beijing resident, postponed his computer-science master’s enrollment until next year.
Zhou says the administrative checks have lasted more than two months, heightening his anxiety.
Students report the scrutiny affects a broad range of study fields and applicant types.

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Story summary

U.S. immigration officials have applied expanded background checks to Chinese visa applicants, causing delays.
Applicants may be required to submit additional documents and undergo extra security reviews.
Ray Zhou, a Beijing resident, postponed his computer-science master’s enrollment until next year.
Zhou says the administrative checks have lasted more than two months, heightening his anxiety.
Students report the scrutiny affects a broad range of study fields and applicant types.