Recalling her time at Princeton University last year, Isabelle described the chaotic atmosphere as international students were urged to return home before the inauguration of President Trump. “It was really disheartening,” she recalled.

After earning her PhD this year, Isabelle had been eager to advance her career by applying to the program. “It really was the time for me to take that next step,” she expressed.

In a statement to SBS News, the CDC said it was not accepting international applicants for the class of 2026 in “alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order, Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats”.

“It has very much informed my plans for the future, given that it doesn’t feel like it’s as easy to go to the US now and do the kind of work that I want to do.”

Growing uncertainty

Many Australians who were looking to live in the US have now experienced significant disruptions to their lives, with work or study plans hindered by growing political uncertainty.

This is despite the profound economic contribution of immigrant workers in the US — one 2024 study from American University estimates immigrant workers contribute around 8 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“Many of the world’s largest companies are still based there and the opportunity to accelerate your skills in a market as big as the US is still a big drawcard for Aussies,” she says.

“You want to feel like you can get great work experience and potentially establish a career overseas – there are so many great Australian stories of people doing that,” she says.

Study plans shattered

“It was my dream school ever since Year 8 because it was the only school that allowed me to study performing arts and an academic degree simultaneously,” she says.

In May, the Trump administration suspended visa interviews for international students, causing a backlog of applicants.

“I feel honestly so disappointed,” she says.

While Gemma has deferred her place at NYU for the moment and there may still be a possibility for her to attend in future, she says she’s unsure she’ll ever be able to take it.

The Trump administration has had student visas in its crosshairs this year, with some students reporting their visas have been revoked, while others say they are facing extensive processing delays.

The US State Department has also required prospective students to make their social media accounts public so government officials who vet visa applications can screen out students deemed to have hostile attitudes towards the US.

In August, the US State Department revoked 6,000 student visas. While the majority were revoked for reasons including overstaying and criminal offences, around 300 were revoked for “terrorist activity”, which is broadly defined as acts that endanger human life or violate US law.

Expressing political views risks denial of entry

The non-profit organisation NAFSA: Association of International Educators estimates the drop in international students in the US could cost the economy approximately $10.6 billion.

Hart says there will be long-term consequences for the US as foreign students are refused or independently turn away from US study opportunities.

She has applied for a research grant in the US but says the focus of the project is health equity, which she’s worried will not be accepted in the current political environment.

“The time we’re living in, it’s just so fragile and seems to be changing so quickly.