[zumu]

> Did I forgot to mention the exorbitant out of state tuition fees and the loans they took for it in their home country ?

I had a lot of close Chinese(PRC) friends in college, and most of them were extremely rich. I know it's anecdotal, but I find it hard to believe a lot of Chinese exchange students are going deep into debt to afford US schools. From what they describe, the student visa interview process favors financially sound students.

That being said, what you've said about the visa system rings painfully true.