US Suspends Student Visa Interviews Amid Social Media Screening Plans

US Halts Student Visa Interviews Amid Social Media Screening Plans

The United States has temporarily suspended scheduling new student visa interviews at embassies worldwide.

Stricter Social Media Checks on the Horizon

The Trump administration is preparing to implement stricter regulations regarding social media account checks for foreign students, raising concerns among international applicants about their future in the US.

A diplomatic cable, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructed consular sections to cease adding additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further notice. Existing appointments will proceed as scheduled.

Concerns and Controversies

This action is part of a larger effort to tighten entry rules for foreign students, citing national security and campus unrest concerns. The State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have not yet commented on the development.

The visa freeze follows previous statements by Rubio regarding students allegedly engaging in protests. The DHS also recently attempted to restrict Harvard University's international student enrollment, a move blocked by a federal judge. Harvard also faces potential loss of federal funding.

Kevin O’Leary, a lecturer at Harvard Business School, suggests vetting students and encouraging them to stay in the US post-graduation to contribute to the economy.