The U.S. government plans to shorten the length of visas issued to some Chinese citizens as part of President Donald Trump's administration attempts to prevent what it says is theft of U.S. intellectual property by China, Reuters reported Dec. 30, citing an unnamed White House official.
The U.S. State Department will activate the measures starting June 11, the official said May 29.
"Going forward, a reduction in validity of some newly issued visas is part of the National Security Strategy to ensure that intellectual property is not transferred to our competitors," the official added, referring to a government document issued in December 2017.
The document said officials will weigh restrictions on visas for science and technology students from some countries. A State Department official said the visa application process remains the same but consular officers may cap the validity of visas for some Chinese applicants on a case-by-case basis, Reuters reported.
A U.S. official said Chinese graduate students pursuing studies in robotics, aviation and high-tech manufacturing would be restricted to one-year visas, Reuters reported, citing an Associated Press report. Beijing has identified these areas as a high priority for its manufacturing sector.
The official added that special visa clearance would be required for Chinese citizens working as researchers or managers for companies under the U.S. Commerce Department watch list. Various U.S. agencies would have to approve the visa, said the AP report.
The U.S. is set to impose 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of goods from China containing "industrially significant" technology and plans to release a list of covered imports by June 15. The tariffs will include goods related to the "Made in China 2025," program, a Chinese initiative to become a major player in advanced manufacturing.
