Visa Interviews for International Students Temporarily Halted as Vetting Expands

By Mary Campbell | Photo Copyright IQ INC.

According to a State Department cable obtained by Politico and confirmed by the Associated Press, the Trump administration is temporarily halting new visa interview appointments for international students and exchange visitors as it prepares to expand social media vetting protocols.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed all U.S. embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new interviews for F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitors) visas. The directive, issued via diplomatic cable, states the pause will remain in effect “until further guidance is issued,” signaling an impending overhaul of the visa vetting process.

“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 visa appointment capacity,” the cable reads.

According to a U.S. official who spoke anonymously to the AP, the move does not affect applicants who have already scheduled visa interviews.

This decision comes amid a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting elite universities and foreign student programs. In recent weeks, the administration revoked Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students—temporarily blocked by a federal judge. The administration also stripped legal status from thousands of international students in the U.S., prompting legal challenges and widespread concern within the academic community.

The State Department’s spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, defended the decision during a press briefing on Tuesday.

“We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce said, affirming that social media screening will become a more significant part of the visa process.

While social media vetting was initially introduced during Trump’s first term, it was maintained during the Biden administration and appears poised for further expansion under the current administration.

Critics argue the move could have serious repercussions for U.S. higher education. Universities, especially research institutions and private colleges, have long relied on international students, who often pay full tuition, to offset declining federal research and education funding. A prolonged delay in issuing student visas could impact summer and fall enrollment, affecting institutional budgets and academic programs.

The policy shift also comes in the context of the president’s ongoing criticism of institutions like Harvard, which he has accused of fostering antisemitism on campus—broadly defining it to include support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The expanded vetting is expected to apply to students as well as exchange visitors such as interns, scholars, au pairs, and instructors. The State Department has yet to release detailed guidelines on what social media content will be scrutinized or how it will influence visa eligibility.

For now, embassies worldwide await further instructions, expected in a “septel,” or separate telegram, as the administration finalizes its framework.