When she applied last autumn, the exchange year attracted her with a new culture, sun, warmth and an education at a university with a high reputation.
It was before Donald Trump became president again.
I started to worry a bit about the exchange when the tariffs against the EU were presented, but it was not until Harvard was banned from receiving international students that I began to realize that it could affect me, says Lisa, who does not want to go out with her real name out of fear of being denied a visa.
CNN reported in April that 1,000 exchange students in the US had their visas withdrawn. The reason seems to be that they participated in protests, mainly linked to Israel's war in Gaza.
I think more and more people are getting worried and less eager. It feels like the country can implode on the spot, says Lisa.
Social media is being scrutinized
Shortly after Harvard's permit to receive international students was withdrawn, the US paused all visa interviews for international students.
At the same time, an extended review of students' activity on social media is being prepared before interviews are reopened.
I went through all my messages and have deleted them if I mentioned Israel/Palestine, says Lisa.
If the exchange does not happen, Lisa, who is in her 20s, will also be left without housing. She terminated the corridor room before the visa interviews were paused.
Although she is admitted to the university in California, neither she nor her classmates dare to book flight tickets.
Most of all, it's not as much fun anymore. Now I wish I had taken an exchange in Europe instead.
Nervous and frustrated
Another person in the same situation is Gustav Göransson, who studies community planning at Lund University and will be studying at the University of California in Santa Barbara.
Everyone is nervous and frustrated, but at the same time curious. Regardless of political values, it's a very interesting time and it will be a special exchange, he says.
He says, however, that he is positive and believes that the exchange will happen.
It has become a bit more real in the last few days. I have become more aware of my role as an exchange student. Some people I know have commented that it might feel that way to go to the US now, but I still think that exchange studies are something positive at the core that promotes democracy.
+ On April 14, Harvard rejected demands that, according to the US government, would curb anti-Semitism on campus. It was about changes in governance, hiring routines, and admission processes. Previously, the government had ordered universities to close diversity offices and cooperate with immigration authorities to review foreign students. The response was that Trump froze over two billion dollars in government grants to Harvard.
+ In May, Trump stopped the opportunity for Harvard to enroll international students. A judge temporarily stopped the decision. After that, Trump has ordered a visa stop for international students at Harvard. Even that decision was stopped by a judge.
+ At the end of May, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio announced that they want to revoke visas for Chinese students. At the same time, the government paused all visa interviews for students worldwide. The interviews will resume when new routines for extended control of social media activity have been introduced.
