The US State Department has temporarily halted the scheduling of new student and exchange visa interviews worldwide as it prepares to broaden social media screening requirements for applicants.
This move is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to intensify scrutiny of foreign students entering the United States, raising concerns about potential impacts on international education and free speech.
With a directive issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US embassies and consulates have been instructed to suspend adding new appointments for student and exchange visitor visas until further guidance is provided.
Those applicants with interviews already scheduled may proceed as planned, but no new bookings are currently allowed. The expanded vetting process will apply social media checks to all student visa applicants, a significant shift from prior policies that targeted only specific individuals.
Expanded Social Media Vetting and Its Operational Impact
According to the State Department, the pause on scheduling visa interviews is necessary due to the expected “significant implications” of the enhanced social media vetting measures. Since 2019, visa applicants have been required to disclose social media account information, but the new procedures will increase the depth and scope of this review.
Consular officers will examine posts, comments, and shares across platforms such as Instagram, X, and TikTok, assessing content deemed potentially threatening to national security.
This expanded screening builds upon earlier efforts to target individuals involved in pro-Palestinian activism or other activities the administration associates with foreign policy risks.
Secretary Rubio recently stated that thousands of visas, many held by students, have already been revoked as part of these efforts. The intensified vetting will require changes to embassy operations, including modifications to workload management and interview scheduling.
Implications for Universities and International Students
The suspension of visa interview appointments threatens to disrupt the enrolment and academic plans of thousands of international students. Many American universities depend heavily on foreign students, who often pay full tuition fees and contribute substantially to institutional revenues.
According to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), over one million foreign students were enrolled in US institutions in 2023, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity.
This policy shift follows the Trump administration’s recent action to revoke Harvard University’s authorisation to enrol international students—a move blocked temporarily by a federal judge.
The administration has linked some university activism with antisemitism and claims of undermining US foreign policy, though critics argue these measures infringe on free speech and constitutional rights. Legal challenges continue to contest visa revocations and deportations related to political activism.
