Washington, USA: The Trump administration has ordered a global pause on scheduling new student visa interviews, impacting thousands of international applicants. The directive, authorized by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to halt processing F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visa applications while implementing stricter security screening protocols.
The new policy intensifies social media checks on visa applicants, requiring consular officers to refer suspicious cases to the State Department’s Fraud Prevention Unit. Officials must capture and store screenshots of questionable online posts, even if applicants delete them later. Visa denials may occur if applicants’ social media content shows support for groups like Hamas or material deemed hostile to American values.
These enhanced measures apply not only to new applicants but also retroactively to individuals who held relevant visas between October 2023 and August 2024, including those whose visas were revoked during this period.
Secretary Rubio defended the approach, emphasizing, “Every visa decision is a national security decision.” However, critics warn that vague criteria for “hostility” could lead to inconsistent visa denials and infringe on freedom of expression.
The suspension has raised alarm among universities and civil rights groups. Many educational institutions, already facing funding cuts and declining international enrollment, fear the new restrictions could cause a lasting downturn. Early 2025 data shows a nearly 50% drop in international student interest from January to April, with experts projecting declines as high as 70% by year-end if the trend continues.
Prestigious universities, including Ivy League schools, are among those affected, facing limitations on admitting foreign students alongside reduced government support.
