A Way-Too-Early Look at the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

The Iowa caucus is in the books, and there’s now data to back up what many have been saying (fearing?) for months.

Donald Trump is the clear favorite to secure the Republican nomination for president.

(Quick explanation for those outside the U.S.: Each state has their own election, called a caucus, where voters select who should be their party’s nominee for the presidency. Since President Biden is already in the White House, it would be a historical upset for him to not receive his party’s nomination. The Republican nomination is still being determined, then once it’s settled the Republican nominee will run against President Biden in November’s general election.)

I had been a Designated School Official for less than a year when Mr. Trump was sworn in as president in January 2017, and so I wasn’t sure how to take people’s claims that things were about to change drastically for international students.

After all, the regulations were still the regulations, so how much would really change.

Turns out, a lot could change. And quickly.

In fact, the Trump Administration’s first travel ban was so abrupt that we had students calling in unable to get to their first week of class.

Now, we could feasibly see President Trump, Round 2 as early as next January.

With all this in mind, what do international students need to know?

First things first, if you’ve been thinking about coming to the U.S. to study but haven’t taken the leap yet, I would strongly encourage you to consider starting your program this year.

In his first term, the Trump Administration never imposed a blanket ban on incoming international students, but it did ban entry for foreign nationals (including students) from certain countries.

He also oversaw a drastic decline in the number of federal employees, leaving many departments stretched thin and taking longer to process applications and inquiries.

It was also under his watch where restrictions on international students from China began gaining steam.

But wait, you may be saying, didn’t a lot of those things get thrown out in court?

Many of the Trump Administration’s executive actions did get thrown out of court, yes.

Out of a court system that looks very different today due to an influx of conservative judges.

The Supreme Court, in fact, is the most conservative it’s been in 90 years, 3 of the 9 justices having been appointed by then-President Trump.

He also appointed nearly as many appeals court judges in 4 years as Barack Obama did in his 8 years in the White House.

None of this is meant to scare anyone.

But it is a reminder of what the U.S. looked like not that long ago, and what it could look like in the not-so-distant future.

So if you’re still interested in coming to the U.S…

If you’ve been considering becoming an international student…

If you’re ready to take the leap like millions of brave immigrants and non-immigrants before you…

Then 2024 is your year.

We know what to expect from the Biden Administration.

Trump is an absolute wild card already, and it stands to be seen if he’ll somehow go even further during a second stint if he wins come November.

But, right now, the environment is as safe as it’s going to be for the foreseeable future.

That’s not to say that being, or becoming, and international student in January 2024 is a walk in the park. I’m not saying it’s easy, just that it’s not going to get easier.

So it this is something you really want to do, but you’ve been holding back while waiting for The Perfect Time…

Then this is your notice that The (most) Perfect Time is NOW!.

It starts with a first step.

The first step for you is to find a school to study at in the U.S.

Then you’ll apply for admission. Assuming you get accepted, you’ll receive a letter of acceptance and directions on how to request an I-20 from the university.

You’ll then take that I-20 to the embassy to apply for a F-1 (Student) Visa.

And that’s it.

That’s how you become an international student.

For now.

Things could change.

If Trump gets re-elected, it’s probably safe to say that things will change.

So think long and hard about whether this is something you really want to do.

If you don’t it’s OK.

Leaving your life at home to travel across the world and start a new life, that’s not for everyone.

For others, it’s calling that can’t be ignored.

If you’re in that second group, then stay tuned- I have some resources coming that will drill down on these steps event further.

Until then, take care.

Josh