The U.S. State Department has temporarily suspended new visa interview appointments for foreign students and exchange visitors, pausing further scheduling as it prepares to implement expanded social media screening protocols.
A confidential internal communication signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by the Associated Press, directs consular offices to cease adding new appointments until formal guidance is issued. The cable reads: “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity” until further notice.
According to a U.S. official familiar with the matter, the suspension is not permanent and does not affect applicants who have already secured interview dates. The official, who requested anonymity, emphasized that the pause is procedural and tied to anticipated policy updates.
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The directive, first reported by Politico, is the latest in a series of restrictive measures affecting international students under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Just last week, the administration rescinded Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, effectively revoking its participation in the federal visa sponsorship program, a move that triggered immediate legal pushback and was subsequently blocked by a federal judge.
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Earlier this spring, the administration also revoked the legal status of thousands of international students already residing in the U.S., causing widespread confusion and concern. Many students departed the country preemptively, fearing deportation. While some later regained status through court rulings, the government expanded the list of infractions that could trigger visa termination.
Under President Donald Trump’s prior administration, social media checks became a standard part of visa vetting. Although the policy was retained during the Biden administration, this renewed push signals a more aggressive return to strict scrutiny.
Officials warn that prolonging the pause on student visa scheduling could jeopardize students’ plans to begin summer and fall academic programs. American universities, many of which have come to rely on full-tuition-paying international students to offset financial gaps, may also feel the sting.
An extended delay, experts say, could have both academic and economic consequences if international enrollment continues to decline.
