In a significant move affecting international students, the United States has paused new visa interviews for student and exchange visitor applicants as part of a broader policy shift under the Trump administration. The decision is tied to an upcoming expansion of social media vetting procedures.
The US State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has instructed consulates worldwide to suspend the scheduling of new F, M, and J visa appointments. This directive is reportedly part of a policy review aimed at enhancing background checks, particularly through scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity.
Although specific details of the enhanced vetting process have not been released, the order references executive actions tied to counterterrorism and combating antisemitism. These steps build upon previous rules introduced during Trump’s earlier term, which focused on students linked to campus activism, particularly around the Israel-Gaza conflict.
This pause in visa processing could have serious implications for American universities, many of which rely heavily on international students for enrollment and financial stability. Over 1.1 million foreign students were enrolled in US institutions during the 2023–24 academic year, contributing nearly $44 billion to the US economy and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The administration has also taken a tough stance on elite academic institutions, accusing some, like Harvard, of liberal bias and fostering antisemitic environments. Recently, the government attempted to revoke Harvard’s ability to admit international students—a move currently blocked by a federal court.
The freeze in visa interviews is expected to remain until further guidance is issued in the coming days.
