Suguru Onda’s US visa at risk after AI mistake threatens status

Key Takeaways

• Suguru Onda’s US student visa was cancelled due to an alleged “criminal” flag from minor infractions, likely by automated AI.
• Legal action reversed the visa cancellation; increased oversight exposed vulnerabilities in automated US visa processing systems.
• Experts warn overuse of automation deters international talent and urges more human review in US visa decisions.

Suguru Onda, a Japanese PhD student at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah, faced a problem that shook his life and those of his family. As someone focused on computer vision and artificial intelligence, Onda was on track to finish his studies in just one year. Suddenly, his US visa was cancelled without warning. This was not only a shock to Onda but also to his wife and five children who were living with him in the United States 🇺🇸. The incident raised many questions about how student visas are managed, especially when automated technology like AI may play a part in these decisions.

The story came to light when Onda’s international student office at BYU told him that his visa was no longer valid. Neither he nor the university saw it coming. No US government agency sent an advance warning or any detailed explanation. The official reason given was a “criminal records check.” But after looking into his record, the only things the authorities found were two small speeding tickets and a fishing citation from 2019, which had already been dismissed. There was nothing that could be considered a real crime.

Onda’s lawyer believed that an AI mistake was the root cause. The State Department uses software to process almost a million student visas. These systems, which often run with little direct oversight from people, may have picked up the small infractions and acted as if they were serious crimes. The problem here is that once these automated decisions happen, the student may not get a chance to respond or fix the mistake.

Let’s take a closer look at what happened with Suguru Onda and think about the bigger impact of using automated systems for US visa decisions.

Suguru Onda’s Visa Cancellation: What Really Happened?

Onda wasn’t alerted by the government or by any legal agency. Instead, the first time he even heard that there was a problem was through an email from BYU’s international student office. They let him know that his student SEVIS record—a digital file that proves his right to stay and study in the US—had been cancelled. SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, and it tracks all international students in the United States.

The official reason, according to what the university received, was based on a “criminal records check.” But as mentioned earlier, Onda had nothing more than a couple of speeding tickets and a fishing citation that was thrown out long ago. These kinds of tickets are common and almost never result in such harsh penalties, especially for something as important as a US visa.

The lawyer working on Onda’s case explained that the current system processes too many applications to check each one by hand. Automated programs—and possibly AI tools—scan through names and records. When these programs see even tiny infractions, they can automatically flag or even cancel a visa, sometimes without giving a real person a chance to double-check the facts. This is especially concerning because students like Onda and their families have so much at stake. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these automated mistakes are not only painful but can also damage careers and family life.

This wasn’t an isolated case. Many other students from different countries—especially those attending American universities—had their SEVIS records suddenly cancelled as well. Sometimes, these students never found out what the real reason was.

The Problem with Too Much Automation in US Visa Decisions

Onda’s case attracted attention because it showed a deeper problem: relying too much on automation and software in immigration decisions can cause serious trouble.

Some of the ways this over-reliance affects students include:

• No Warning or Explanation: In most cases, neither the student nor the university gets advance notice. They just find out after the fact that a visa has been cancelled.
• Lack of Appeal: Once a record is flagged by the automated system, fixing the error often requires legal action by the student or a lawyer.
• No Human Oversight: Without a real person reviewing each decision, mistakes can slip through unnoticed until it’s too late.

Onda’s lawyer described how easy it is for an automated system to make a simple AI mistake, which can have major effects. When the process is handled entirely by machines, there’s a risk of making choices without understanding the situation or seeing the bigger picture. A computer program might treat a dismissed fishing ticket as if it were a serious crime.

This raises a big issue for all students who depend on the US visa system. It’s meant to invite the world’s best and brightest students, but these stories may make future students think twice about studying in the United States 🇺🇸.

Broader Impact: How Many Students Are at Risk?

Onda was not the only one affected. Reports showed that dozens of international students had faced almost identical problems. Their student visa status was cancelled without much warning, and in many cases, the reason never became clear. These stories were found at several US universities.

Universities and lawyers have started speaking up. They say that leaving important decisions about international students to automated systems is not safe, especially if those systems are not always checked by people. Small mistakes can turn into big problems in seconds.

Academic leaders are concerned, too. Yisong Yue, a professor at the California Institute of Technology, said that these kinds of incidents make the United States less welcoming for top international students. Many experts agree. If students think their visas might be taken away for minor reasons—or because a machine mixed up some paperwork—they may choose to study or do research in other countries instead.

This is a bigger problem than it might seem at first. International students bring different perspectives and help drive scientific discovery, new technology, and economic growth. If they cannot trust the US visa system, the United States 🇺🇸 might lose its spot as a top place for higher education and research.

Legal Steps and the Path to Reinstatement

After his visa was cancelled, Suguru Onda and other affected students had no choice but to go to court. They filed a lawsuit to challenge the automated decisions. One key goal of the lawsuit was to force government agencies to pause any action against these students until human experts could take a second look at what had happened.

Surprisingly, as soon as the lawsuit gained attention, and after more people—likely officials—looked at Onda’s situation personally, his visa was quickly reinstated. This key moment shows how important it is for people, not only software, to be involved in such important decisions.

The reversal after the lawsuit hints that building in more human review could lessen the risk of future mistakes. Legal efforts also help set an example for other students in similar situations. If automation causes a mistake, it’s possible to fight back, though that often demands time, money, and a deep understanding of the law.

Consequences for International Students and American Universities

When cases like Suguru Onda’s become public, it sends a strong message to people all over the world who want to study or work in the United States 🇺🇸.

Here are some of the ripple effects:

• Students May Think Twice: Stories about the US visa system cancelling visas without warning can cause young scholars to pick other countries with more reliable—or predictable—systems.
• Research and Academia Suffer: The United States 🇺🇸 has long depended on international students for research and teaching in science and engineering. If talented people go elsewhere, American universities might fall behind in world rankings and discoveries.
• Family and Mental Health Costs: For students like Onda who move to the United States 🇺🇸 with their families, a sudden visa issue causes stress, financial worry, and sometimes forces entire families to return home without finishing their work or study.

Universities now face extra pressure to help their international students. They not only have to deal with government paperwork but must also be ready for surprises like this one. Lawyers and advocates suggest all international students keep clear records and seek legal help right away if anything about their visa status changes not due to their own actions.

What Can Be Done to Avoid Future AI Mistakes?

Onda’s story makes it clear that while technology can help process large numbers of US visa applications efficiently, there are clear risks if unchecked software or AI tools make important choices alone.

Many experts recommend:

• Adding more human review steps before a system cancels or flags a student’s visa.
• Letting students and universities know in advance about potential issues, so they can respond quickly with facts or documents.
• Creating easy ways for students to challenge a sudden US visa cancellation without having to go to court every time.

The US government agencies responsible for visas, such as the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, provide resources for those seeking help with their visa status. To find accurate information on the official process for international students, students and schools can visit the U.S. Department of State’s visa information page.

Summary Table: Onda’s Ordeal at a Glance

Final Thoughts: The Future of Automation and US Visas

The experience of Suguru Onda is a strong reminder of the dangers of using automated systems without enough checks, especially for something as important as a US visa. What began as an AI mistake nearly forced a hardworking student and his family out of the country for nothing more than small tickets—one of which wasn’t even a real crime.

Human oversight is vital. Even the best technology can make errors, but people must have a simple way to fix problems. This not only helps people like Onda but also protects America’s reputation as a place where students and researchers from all over the world are welcome.

US officials, universities, and students need to work together to build systems that are fair and safe while still using new technology to process applications. While the US will likely continue to rely on software and automation, Onda’s story shows the deep importance of keeping people involved at every stage.

International students and universities can help by keeping open communication, understanding the possible risks, and knowing their rights. In case of any sudden issue with a US visa, students should look to trusted resources like VisaVerge.com and official US government websites for up-to-date information and guidance.

By learning from these stories, everyone can work toward a visa system that values fairness, accuracy, and above all, the well-being of the students and families who dream of studying and working in the United States 🇺🇸.

Learn Today

SEVIS → Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a US database tracking international students’ visa status and compliance on university campuses.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) → Technology enabling computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as interpreting records in immigration decisions.
Visa Revocation → The cancellation or invalidation of a visa, resulting in loss of permission to remain in the host country.
Criminal Records Check → A background check to identify any criminal history, often used in visa eligibility and immigration reviews.
Automated System → Programs or software that process decisions with minimal or no human intervention, used for efficiency but with risk of error.

This Article in a Nutshell

Suguru Onda, a Japanese PhD student at BYU, had his US visa revoked because automated systems flagged minor infractions. Without warning, he faced leaving the country with his family. Legal action reversed the decision, highlighting the risks of excessive automation in immigration—prompting calls for increased human oversight in visa decisions.
— By VisaVerge.com

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