UW International exchange students share perspectives on 2024 U.S. presidential election | News

UW international exchange students range in their expressed perspectives towards the 2024 United States presidential election.

The results of the U.S. presidential election have the potential to change key immigration policies that could make it more difficult for international students to work in the U.S. after graduation.

International students at Columbia College Chicago and Middlebury College have expressed concern about Donald Trump’s fluctuating foreign policy promises, as well as Kamala Harris’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Josh Bostock, an international exchange student from University College London, never considered the election as an important factor in his decision to leave his home in the U.K. for a one-year long exchange at UW Seattle.

“I didn’t really care about [the election] because I don’t vote,” Bostock said. “I feel like it doesn’t directly affect me much.”

Bostock’s knowledge on U.S. politics stems from the two-party system, knowing that democrats are more left-leaning and republicans more right-leaning.

In addition, Bostock knew that Washington state favored the democratic party, which made him more comfortable in Seattle for the duration of his exchange program.

“I think [there are no] concerns, but there will be certain impacts depending on who wins,” Bostock said. “But because I am only here for a year, I don’t feel like it’s gonna directly affect me.”

International students make-up about 15% of UW Seattle’s total student population, according to UW headcount enrollment trends.

International exchange students are required to obtain an Exchange Visitor (J) visa to study in the United States, which allows them to pursue a full-time, non-degree program for up to 24 months, according to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

UW International Student Services (ISS) reported a total of 311 J-1/J-2 visa-obtaining students at UW Seattle in autumn quarter of the 2023-2024 academic year. According to UW Study Abroad, 249 international exchange students are studying at the UW Seattle campus throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

Chuan Sha, an international exchange student from University of Edinburgh, came to the U.S. in hopes of making new friends and immersing himself in a new culture.

“[I am] for a peaceful president,” Sha said. “[I like] traveling and meeting new people and want everyone to be more friendly, more globalization and just more communication between countries.”

Sha had a basic understanding of U.S. history from secondary school but expressed limited knowledge about the federal election’s candidates Harris and Trump.

Sha also expressed confusion about the purpose of Harris and Trump’s donation advertisements seen on social media and video platforms.

“I couldn’t influence it, and it’s not like I can do anything about it,” Sha said. “I’ll see how it goes and maybe I’ll react on it.”

Bostock believes UW’s international student body holds a variety of opinions regarding the election, but shared that many perceive Trump less seriously overall.

“We just think he’s more of a [joke] because he’s in the international news all the time,” Bostock said. “We get much more of ‘oh, he’s done some silly thing,’ or the assassination attempts, we got stuff on that as well.”

According to UW ISS Director of International Student Services, Kim Lovaas, the organization helps international students understand their “immigration status, benefits and restrictions” during their time at UW.

“We have not received any direct feedback indicating increased stress or anxiety regarding the election…” Lovaas said in an email. “Any changes in the administration, however, could lead to new policy changes that may impact international students.”

Lovaas advised students to check UW ISS’s U.S. Government Update blog for the most current information.

Bostock shared why many international exchange students at UW may be reluctant to openly share their opinions about the U.S. election.

“I feel we are much less informed on policies and the nuances of each candidate,” Bostock said in a text statement. “We do not know the impacts, [so] we are reluctant to share an opinion on something we are uninformed about. I think it sort of boils down to not wanting to upset anyone.”

Sha is not eligible to vote in the U.S. but hopes that the election won’t change much about his or other international exchange students’ time at UW.

“Everyone is hoping that nothing drastic happens and nothing tremendous changes,” Sha said. “We just want to have a more friendly environment, and at the end of the day we’re all exchange students and we come here to make new friends and immerse ourselves in the culture.”

Lovaas encouraged students who feel impacted by election anxiety to seek support through on-campus services including the Counseling Center and UW CIRCLE.

Reach reporter Corey Olson at [email protected]. X: @coreyholson

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