California AI PhD Student Faces Visa Revocation: A Cautionary Tale

In recent developments, an AI doctoral student in California faced a critical challenge when their SEVIS record, which serves as digital proof of a valid student visa, was terminated. This alarming situation puts their immigration status at significant risk.

Background on Visa Termination

Speaking to TechCrunch, the student, who chose to remain anonymous due to concerns about potential repercussions, shared that they were informed by their college’s international student center about being flagged in a criminal records check. Having studied in the U.S. for nearly a decade, starting as an undergraduate, the student asserted they possess no criminal history.

Possible Causes for Visa Issues

The student speculated that a past interaction with law enforcement, predating their graduate studies, may have triggered this situation. “I was conducting research in the AI field and had planned to continue my research after graduation,” they explained.

Impact of Recent Immigration Crackdowns

Over the past few months, more than a thousand international students in the U.S. have faced challenges to their visa statuses. This crackdown, driven by the State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has created a climate of uncertainty for many students. Often, these students receive little to no notification from their colleges or the relevant federal agencies.

• Colleges report a lack of direct communication from federal agencies.
• Students have limited recourse to address these issues.

Expert Opinions on the Situation

Yisong Yue, a machine learning professor at Caltech, highlighted the adverse effects of the U.S. government’s strict policies on student visas. He stated, “The cumulative effect is making the U.S. a significantly less appealing destination for many talented researchers.”

Yue emphasized that the removal of a doctoral student from a project can delay research timelines by months or even years, impacting not just the individual but the larger academic and research community.

Widespread Effects on Students

The crackdown has touched various institutions, including Ivy League universities, large public colleges, and small liberal arts schools. While some students have faced accusations related to supporting militant groups or engaging in antisemitic activities, others have been penalized for minor infractions, such as traffic violations.

Administrative Errors and Legal Actions

Reports indicate that some visa revocations may stem from administrative errors. For example, Suguru Onda, a doctoral candidate in computer science at Brigham Young University, had their revoked student visa reinstated shortly after legal action was taken by their immigration attorney, Adam Crayk. Crayk noted that the government is increasingly relying on AI for screening visa holders, which can lead to mistakes without human verification.

Recent Legal Developments

In a significant ruling, a judge in Georgia issued a temporary restraining order for around 100 international students whose visas were revoked, instructing the government to restore their legal status. However, this ruling only applies to a small fraction of affected students and may face future challenges.

Contribution of International Students to AI

Yue pointed out that international students have been instrumental in many recent advancements in AI. Notable figures include:

• Ashish Vaswani, co-creator of the transformer model underlying chatbots like ChatGPT.
• Wojciech Zaremba, co-founder of OpenAI, who earned his doctorate in AI from NYU on a student visa.

The Economic Impact of International Students

A recent analysis by the nonprofit educational association NAFSA revealed that international students contributed an astounding $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year, supporting over 378,000 jobs.

Concerns Among Researchers

Yue mentioned having numerous discussions with senior AI researchers who are increasingly anxious about their future in the U.S. “This includes professors at top universities and researchers at companies such as OpenAI and Google,” he stated. “The cumulative effect of the government’s actions is making the U.S. a significantly less appealing destination for many talented researchers.”