Over 200 Catalan University Students Eagerly Anticipate Trump’s US Student Visa Decision

A group of 217 Catalan students is eagerly waiting for the Trump administration’s decision on their student visas to study in the United States this academic year. These students come from different universities: 72 from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 71 from Pompeu Fabra University, and others from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, Rovira i Virgili University, the University of Lleida, and the University of Girona.

One of these students is Laia, who studies Advertising and PR at Pompeu Fabra. She plans to join an Erasmus exchange program at Boston College this fall. While her classmates have received their visa appointments, Laia is still left in uncertainty. She completed her application in May, paid the necessary fee, but her application didn’t show up in the system.

Laia shared her frustration: “I’ve been trying to resolve it for weeks now. I was already anxious about the situation, and now this has made it worse.” She hopes to get her appointment soon, especially as she has already spent between €4,000 and €5,000 on travel and accommodation.

The Trump administration has recently paused student visa interviews amid ongoing reviews of the approval process. While the U.S. Embassy in Madrid is still honoring scheduled appointments, new applicants can only start their visa process and must wait for the rules to change. The administration emphasizes strict vetting criteria to enhance national security. Since 2019, they have even reviewed social media accounts of visa applicants.

This move has drawn attention, especially due to a recent conflict involving Harvard University. The administration attempted to revoke its ability to admit foreign students, citing issues related to antisemitism during campus protests. Harvard fought back in court, resulting in a temporary halt of the administration’s plan.

According to the U.S. State Department, 8,842 Spanish students pursued studies in the U.S. in the 2023-2024 academic year. Most of these were undergraduates. Spanish students make up only 0.8% of the international student body in U.S. universities. Interestingly, Spain ranks as the third most popular destination for American students studying abroad, following Italy and the UK.

The ongoing visa issues and their connection to broader political tensions are raising concerns among students. As Laia put it, "It’s my future, and something that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time." With so many unknowns, students like her face a challenging wait for clarity on their next steps.

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