The Trump administration has paused all new student visa interviews at US embassies and consulates worldwide. The freeze applies to applicants seeking F, M, and J category visas– used by international students, vocational trainees, and exchange visitors.
This suspension comes as the administration considers a new rule to require mandatory social media background checks for all foreign students applying to study in the US, according to a diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and confirmed by the Associated Press.
Why it matters
This move could have widespread consequences:
Enrolment disruption: Over 400,000 student visas were issued in 2024. Pausing interviews halts this pipeline, just as summer and fall admissions approach.
Economic impact: International students contribute roughly $44 billion to the US economy and support over 370,000 jobs, according to NAFSA. Reduced enrolment may financially harm schools, especially those reliant on full-paying foreign students.
Policy shift: The freeze reflects a broader national security strategy to scrutinise foreign presence, especially amid controversy over campus protests and elite university admissions.
What’s the policy change?
The State Department has ordered embassies to: Stop adding new appointment slots for student or exchange visitor visas until further instructions.
The underlying goal is to roll out social media vetting for all applicants.
This kind of screening is already required for green card and citizenship applicants within the US. Extending it abroad would affect around 2.5 million people annually.
Background context
The administration has revoked visas of students allegedly tied to pro-Palestinian campus protests, which Rubio has labeled “pro-Hamas.”
It recently tried to bar Harvard from enrolling international students, alleging mismanagement and misuse of endowments. That move has stalled in court.
President Trump also demanded a list of all foreign students at Harvard, raising questions about the administration’s intent.
What’s next?
A US official told AP the suspension is temporary and doesn’t affect those with already scheduled interviews. But a prolonged halt could delay travel for thousands of students set to enrol in US schools soon.
If implemented, the new social media screening could add bureaucratic delays and privacy concerns, while schools might see a drop in international applications, pushing them to rethink funding and admissions strategies.