After US President Donald Trump re-entered the political stage, many international students — especially those holding F-1 visas — are once again facing the familiar anxiety of uncertain immigration policy.
As an immigration attorney, and once an F-1 student myself, I understand that fear deeply. I came to the US from Taiwan for graduate school, went through optional practical training (OPT), submitted thousands of resumes and anxiously waited for a sponsor willing to file my H-1B. That experience shaped my empathy and approach to helping others.
The US Department of State’s 2024 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange said that Taiwanese enrollment in US universities rose from 21,834 to 23,157 students in the 2023-2024 academic year. While the numbers reflected Taiwan’s continued faith in US education, behind them lie administrative hurdles, political uncertainties and immense personal stress that are rarely discussed.
During Trump’s first term, F-1 students faced intensified scrutiny at US borders. Some were asked to unlock their phones, held for extended questioning or even denied entry. I frequently heard concerns such as “I am just here to study — why am I being treated like a threat?”
OPT and science, technology, engineering and mathematics OPT also came under political fire. Proposals during the Trump years sought to limit eligibility or eliminate key benefits. The efforts created fear among students who relied on the programs for post-graduate work. Even now, I am asked: “If my F-1 visa expires, can I return to Taiwan to renew it?” The answer is: It depends. Each case must be carefully assessed based on personal risk and the American Institute in Taiwan review climate.
Another emerging concern is the scrutiny of social media. Since 2019, US visa forms require disclosure of all social media handles used in the past five years. While private cloud albums such as Google Photos are not reviewed, public posts — even on personal accounts — could trigger concern. Setting profiles to private or deleting content might lead to suspicion. One student’s visa was delayed after their social media activity raised questions during the interview.
I have also been asked by some engineers from Hsinchu: “Can I apply for a National Interest Waiver [NIW] while outside the US?” The answer is yes — if you could show that your work significantly benefits the US.
Over the past few years, I have helped Taiwanese engineers, pilots, researchers and physicians secure green cards under the NIW without relocating.
The key is preparation. Immigration policies might change, but the importance of early planning does not. Understanding your potential paths — OPT, H-1B, NIW — could provide security. Waiting until the last minute often leads to missed opportunities and added stress.
If Trump’s return brings new restrictions, we must be ready. For international students, the takeaway is clear: The more you know and the earlier you prepare, the better you can steer your future.
Danny Chen is a US visa and immigration attorney, and founder of the Green Maple Law Group.
KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) recent visit to Beijing and her upcoming visit to Washington will serve as a high-level test of her diplomatic mettle. In Beijing, Cheng was received with symbolic gestures, a warm reception, and high-level access. In Washington, she will receive far less pomp and far sharper questions about the KMT’s vision for the future of Taiwan. Her challenge will be to persuade Washington that the KMT’s engagement with China can coexist with strong deterrence. Cheng’s April 7-12 visit to mainland China coincided with an intense period of conflict in Iran. Despite the strategic significance of Cheng’s trip,
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent the vast Asian chemicals industry into a tailspin. Deprived of the likes of Qatari natural gas and Saudi Arabian oil, the region’s fertilizer and plastics plants are slowing production or even shutting down. Everywhere except China, that is. In petrochemicals, China is unique. As well as a traditional industry that uses oil and gas as feedstock, it has parallel output that relies on its abundant domestic coal. Unsurprisingly, India and other regional powers want to copy and paste the Chinese method. This would not be easy — or climate friendly. The
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto says he knows how to fix the problems facing Indonesia. Yet his economic mismanagement and authoritarian tendencies are steering the nation toward a familiar mix of currency instability and political chaos. The world’s fourth-most populous nation risks reversing the hard-won democratic and business reforms that came after the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. At that time, the rupiah collapsed and the political upheaval that followed forced former president Haji Mohamed Suharto from power. Prabowo’s administration is ignoring similar warning signs. That disconnect was apparent in a national address on Wednesday, when Prabowo projected the swagger that has
“Of course you can choose not to be Taiwanese, just do not stay here,” chairwoman of Taipei 101 operator Taipei Financial Center Corp Janet Chia (賈永婕) said in an online interview with local entertainer Tai Chih-yuan (邰智源), triggering intense discussion on social media, with politicians across party lines weighing in. In the interview, which was aired on May 14, Chia and Tai’s discussion over a meal in Taipei 101 covered Chia’s career change from entertainer to chairwoman and US climber Alex Honnold’s free solo climb up the Taipei 101 building. During the interview, Chia said, “Being on this land, we
RSS