New Student Visa Interviews Paused, Vetting Measures Intensify

(The Post News)– The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to halt the scheduling of new interviews for international student visas, as it prepares to implement expanded social media vetting protocols for foreign applicants.

According to a diplomatic cable obtained by Politico, Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the directive on Tuesday, instructing consular officers not to add additional appointment capacity for F, M, and J visa categories, which apply to academic students, vocational students, and exchange visitors, respectively.

The cable noted that consular sections should immediately refrain from adding any more student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is released to prepare for an expansion of the mandatory social media screening and vetting.

The directive comes amid a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration, which has emphasised ideological scrutiny and national security concerns. As of now, individuals with already scheduled interviews will not be affected by the pause.

The suspension of new student visa appointments represents a significant escalation of social media surveillance, which began earlier this year. In April, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it would begin factoring online activity such as posts, comments, group affiliations, and public expressions into discretionary immigration decisions.

Particularly, the agency highlighted that anti-Semitic content or online harassment of Jewish individuals could be grounds for denial of immigration benefits. Posts promoting or endorsing anti-Semitic organisations or terrorist activity would be considered negative factors during the vetting process.

This expanded screening applies not only to prospective students but also to skilled workers, tourists, and visiting researchers.

While the administration argues that the enhanced measures are essential to safeguarding national interests, critics contend that the policy could suppress free expression and unfairly target individuals based on their political views or cultural affiliations.

Higher education institutions, many of which rely heavily on international student enrolment, have raised alarms over the potential impact. Universities fear delays and uncertainty could discourage international applicants and disrupt academic programming.

Immigration advocates also warn that such surveillance tactics may set a precedent for broader digital scrutiny that could infringe on privacy rights and disproportionately affect applicants from specific countries or religious groups.

As of now, the State Department has not provided a timeline for lifting the suspension or issuing further guidance. In the interim, educational institutions and applicants are urged to monitor updates through official channels.