U.S. suspends new student visa interviews: implications for existing appointments – scroll to read more!
BRIEF: The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary Rubio, has temporarily paused scheduling new student visa interviews worldwide, pending the implementation of expanded social media screenings. Existing appointments will continue as scheduled, but new slots are not available until further notice.
The United States has decided to temporarily pause the scheduling of new student visa interviews at its embassies and consulates worldwide. However, the State Department confirmed that interviews already scheduled before this directive will proceed as planned, according to a cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Trump administration enhanced its vetting of student social media, as reported by the Guardian in March. The report linked this move to a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses. In April, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would consider “antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals” as grounds for denying requests for immigration benefits.
The Trump administration has paused new interview appointments as part of its initiative to implement expanded social media screening for student and exchange visitor visa applicants. The State Department is reviewing its operations and processes for screening and vetting student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants. Based on this review, the department will issue guidance on the expanded social media vetting for all such applicants.
The directive instructs consular sections to refrain from adding any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued. However, they can proceed with appointments that have already been scheduled under the current guidelines. They should immediately remove any available appointments that have not yet been taken as of the release of this cable.
The Trump administration is expanding social media screening as part of a broader effort to enhance national security measures. They have previously sought to revoke student visas and emphasised the importance of thorough vetting processes.
click here to stay up to date with the latest updates
The cable instructs consular offices to prioritise services for US citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention. Although the pause in scheduling new interviews is temporary, the State Department has not specified when it will issue new guidance. Applicants with existing appointments should attend their interviews as scheduled, while those seeking to schedule new appointments must wait for further instructions from the department.
Universities have accused the Trump administration of trying to infringe on free speech. Critics argue that the new policy on social media vetting violates the rights enshrined by the First Amendment in the US Constitution.
Last week, Trump revoked Harvard’s ability to enrol international students and host foreign researchers. A federal judge blocked his policy. If the measure is ultimately allowed, it could deliver a devastating blow to the university, where more than a quarter of the students come from overseas. Students protested against the move on the university’s campus near Boston on Tuesday.
The president of the university stated that the cuts will “hurt” the country, not just Harvard, because academics are conducting research that the government deems “high priority.”
