US Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Expanded Social Media Vetting Push
In a significant policy shift, the US State Department has directed all consulates worldwide to pause new student and exchange visitor visa interviews, as the Trump administration pushes for stricter social media vetting of international applicants.
According to a classified internal cable obtained by Politico, the directive, issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, halts the scheduling of new appointments for F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas. The order will remain in effect until new guidelines on social media screening are rolled out in the coming days.
The move is part of a broader clampdown on foreign students amid heightened scrutiny of university campuses, which the administration alleges have become centers of liberal bias and antisemitism.
The official cable instructed consular sections:
“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.”
This pause in visa processing is expected to disrupt student travel plans ahead of the fall academic intake and potentially place financial strain on American institutions that rely heavily on international enrolment.
More than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in US universities during the 2023–24 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education. These students contribute an estimated $43.8 billion annually to the US economy and support over 378,000 jobs, the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers reported.
University officials and immigration attorneys have raised alarm over the sudden move. Many fear the added layer of social media scrutiny could create significant delays and deter prospective students from choosing the US as an education destination.
The Trump administration has increasingly tied student visa policies to broader political and cultural agendas. Last week, federal officials moved to strip Harvard University of its authority to enroll international students—an order later stayed by a federal court. Trump further escalated the matter by demanding a list of all foreign students at Harvard, accusing their home countries of contributing “nothing” toward their education.
The new pause on visa interviews follows prior rules introduced by the administration requiring social media disclosures, especially for students linked to anti-Israel protests. Although the current directive does not detail the expanded vetting process, it references executive orders aimed at combating terrorism and antisemitism.
So far, there has been no official response from Indian authorities or the Ministry of External Affairs. However, immigration experts warn of a ripple effect, especially for Indian students, who form one of the largest contingents of international students in the US.
International education consultancies and student groups have begun advising students to delay travel plans and brace for possible disruptions.
