The United States has hit pause on new student visa interviews around the world.
In a cable sent Tuesday to diplomatic posts worldwide, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered U.S. embassies to stop scheduling additional appointments for student and exchange visitor visas, citing upcoming changes to how applicants’ social media activity will be screened.
“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” Rubio wrote.
The directive applies to F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visa categories, though it allows interviews that have already been scheduled to proceed. Additional guidance, Rubio said, is expected in the coming days.
The move marks the latest in a string of actions under the Trump administration aimed at tightening entry for foreign students. The administration argues that certain student populations have contributed to what officials claim is a rise in antisemitism on U.S. campuses, though no specific evidence has been publicly cited to support that claim in connection with visa policy.
The cable, first reported by Politico, immediately drew concern from international education circles, with critics warning it could disrupt academic planning and sour perceptions of the U.S. as a welcoming destination for study and research.
For now, embassies are left in a holding pattern, as thousands of would-be students await clarity on how their digital footprints may factor into future visa decisions.
Source: Bloomberg
