Economic impact

The new policy follows an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump last month to suspend certain work visas through the end of this year to "protect American jobs" during the pandemic. The visas most affected include H-1B and L-1 documentation for high-skilled workers and executives.

Pearl, from the Pearl Law Group, warned that this policy has a wider, more damaging economic impact on the US' ability to compete and grow.

As with the administration's H-1B and L-1 visa bans issued by executive order, the threat to withdraw F-1 visas sends a chilling message to US companies and the foreign-born talent they hire, she said.

The H-1B program is important to many international students who use the visa as a pathway to live and work in the US. Companies in Silicon Valley, California, also rely heavily on the program to fill high-skilled jobs.

However, the US government has been tightening restrictions on student visas and cracking down on the H-1B program, with the stated aim of putting America first.

Pearl said: "It's shutting off the pipeline of talent at its earliest source. These are the world's most sought after students, many of whom go on to US graduate schools and then work in companies to help improve the US balance of trade. They enable innovation and employment in a variety of industries.

"They become the doctors and scientists helping us to fight COVID-19, and also innovators at Fortune 500 companies fueling the economy."

Data from the National Science Board show that most advanced degrees awarded by US universities in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) go to foreign nationals.

While urging the government to adopt talent-oriented immigration policies, the American Chamber of Commerce said, "US scientific, engineering and health communities cannot hope to maintain their present position of international leadership if they are unable to hire and retain highly educated foreign talent."

Pearl said the latest policy targeting international students "changes America's destiny in the race for global talent".

"By being the first administration since World War II to claw back, without fair notice, the status already given to gifted students and other foreigners－including some visa holders whose spouses and children are stuck outside the US due to the previous immigration order－America takes a dark step backwards," she said.