U.S. Suspends Student Visa Processing as Trump Expands Social Media Vetting
The Trump administration has ordered an immediate suspension of all new student visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.
The move comes as part of a broader plan to expand social media vetting for international applicants seeking to study or participate in exchange programs in the United States.
A diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed consular offices to stop scheduling appointments for F, M, and J visa categories, which cover students and exchange visitors.
The directive cites the need to pause operations while the government develops new procedures for reviewing applicants’ social media activity across platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok.
The administration says the expanded vetting is intended to identify potential national security threats, including extremist ideologies and antisemitic content. Officials have not yet released full guidelines for how the new screening process will work but indicated that further instructions would follow in the coming days.
The decision has sparked swift backlash from universities and immigration advocates. Many colleges, especially those with large international student populations, fear the policy will deter prospective students and disrupt plans for the upcoming academic year. Campus officials warn that the uncertainty created by the sudden halt in visa processing could affect enrollment, campus diversity, and institutional finances.
Civil liberties groups have also raised concerns that the policy may infringe on free speech rights. Critics argue that the lack of transparency in what constitutes a social media “red flag” could lead to unfair denials based on political beliefs or lawful expressions of opinion.
As of now, the State Department has not provided a timeline for when student visa processing will resume. The decision marks the latest in a series of immigration restrictions introduced since President Trump’s return to office, underscoring his administration’s focus on tightening U.S. borders and increasing scrutiny of foreign nationals.
