This autumn, review procedures for international students at U.S. universities have taken another step forward.
WorldWay Immigration has noted that Purdue University, a renowned U.S. STEM institution, has officially launched a new research security screening policy.Pursuant to Indiana SB 256, certain international students and postdoctoral researchers from specific countries, including China, who apply for related majors must undergo additional research security review before receiving formal admission or employment.
This new rule officially came into effect on August 15, 2026.
In short, while many security screenings previously occurred during the visa application process, research projects, or after entering laboratories, this review step has now been moved even earlier to the university admission stage.
I. Which Chinese StudentsWill Be Affected?
This new rule does not target all international students, nor will every Chinese student applying to Purdue face additional screening.
According to the information currently released by Purdue University, it mainly affects international applicants from specific countries, including China, who apply for relevant academic majors.
Majors currently explicitly included in the scope are:
Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Microbiology, Virology, and related fields.
Undergraduate, Master's, Doctoral, and certain postdoctoral applications may all be subject to this requirement.
However, if applicants already hold U.S. citizenship, a U.S. Green Card, or meet the conditions for relevant asylum status, they are not within the scope of this review.
Therefore, this policy does not mean that “Purdue is no longer accepting Chinese students,” but rather that certain Chinese applicants will have an additional review step on top of the original application process.
II. Beyond Academic Records and Research,
What Else Will Be Screened?
This newly added screening process focuses on more than just students' academic performance or whether their research background is sufficient.
Applicants may also need to provide additional information regarding their educational and work history, research collaborations, external funding sources, and past affiliations with relevant institutions.
If the application materials are complex, the university may also request further clarification.
For applicants, the most direct impact is that more materials need to be prepared, and the review period may be extended.
When applying to U.S. universities in the past, applicants focused primarily on GPA, language test scores, research experience, internships, and personal statements. In the future, applicants for certain sensitive majors will also need to set aside time for research security screening.
Therefore, for students planning to apply to U.S. institutions, it is necessary to allow more sufficient time when selecting schools and planning the application timeline.
III.
Why Is This Change at Purdue
Worthy of Attention?
On one hand, it is because Purdue University itself is a prestigious U.S. STEM institution that draws significant attention from Chinese students.
Majors such as Engineering, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence have consistently been popular application fields for Chinese students, and these happen to overlap heavily with the newly introduced screening.
On the other hand, what deserves even greater attention is the direction behind these policy changes.
In recent years, the U.S. has continually intensified its scrutiny over university research security, international research collaboration, sensitive technologies, and foreign funding sources.
In the past, these requirements seemed somewhat distant from ordinary international students.
However, Indiana has now placed part of the review prior to admission, signifying that research security management is extending further upstream to the early stages of study abroad applications.
WorldWay Immigration believes that for families currently planning U.S. education, what truly demands attention regarding such changes is that studying in the U.S. is incorporating an increasing number of policy variables beyond academic achievements.
IV. Studying in the U.S.
Requires Preparing More Than Just an Admission Letter
WorldWay reminds families with long-term plans to go to the U.S. that what truly needs to be considered goes beyond simply securing an offer of admission.
If you hope your child will continue to intern, work, or even develop long-term in the U.S. after graduation, immigration status is an unavoidable topic at every subsequent stage—from university admission, to F-1 student status, to OPT, and then to H-1B.
Studying abroad solves the issue of entering a U.S. campus, while legal status dictates how many options will be available in the future.
This is why an increasing number of families planning long-term for the U.S. choose to evaluate education and legal status together.
As a Top 500 Asian Brand with over 20 years of dedication to immigration services, WorldWay Group started in Hong Kong in 1998, rooted in Hong Kong for over two decades, with professional companies in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. Drawing on extensive experience in serving U.S. immigration families, WorldWay Immigration continues to closely monitor the evolving relationship between study abroad policies and long-term status planning.
Taking EB-5 Investment Immigration as an example, under the new law, rural projects currently continue to enjoy policy advantages such as reserved visa quotas and priority processing. For eligible applicants who maintain lawful status in the United States, concurrent filing can be utilized to advance adjustment of status simultaneously when there is no visa backlog.
For families who are certain that their children wish to study, work, and build a long-term future in the U.S., rather than waiting until graduation, job hunting, or visa changes occur to address status issues, it is far better to align educational pathways with long-term status planning on the same schedule much earlier.
Right now, EB-5 is also in a crucial time window worthy of attention. Currently, the minimum EB-5 investment amount remains at $800,000. Starting January 1, 2027, the investment amount will be increased to $900,000–$950,000 or even higher. Meanwhile, the September 30, 2026 deadline for the grandfather clause is also approaching.
The overlap of these two key milestones makes the current application window even more noteworthy. WorldWay highlights the I-956F approved rural EB-5 project, “Deer Valley · Snowridge Residences”, as well as the “Marriott · Imperial Lake Bay Resort” EB-5 project launched in our fifth collaboration with Peachtree Group, offering diverse project choices for different families. From now until September 30, 2026, clients applying for EB-5 immigration can enjoy limited-time exclusive offers, further reducing processing costs during this crucial window.
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