US temporarily pauses new student visa interviews amid social media vetting expansion

US Pauses New Student Visa Interviews for Social Media Checks

The US State Department has temporarily suspended the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students while it prepares to implement broader social media screening procedures, officials confirmed.

This pause affects only new applicants and does not apply to students who already have visa interviews scheduled. The move is expected to be short-term, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of internal communications.

A State Department cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reviewed by the Associated Press, instructs consular posts not to open additional appointment slots for student or exchange visitor visas. The measure is being taken in anticipation of updated guidelines for expanded digital vetting.

"Effective immediately, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until the guidance is issued," the cable states.

During a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated that the US continues to deploy all available tools to ensure proper screening of visa applicants. "Whether someone is coming as a student or under another category, we are committed to thorough vetting," she said.

This development, first reported by Politico, is part of a broader pattern of increased scrutiny toward international students under former President Donald Trump's administration. In a related move last week, the government withdrew Harvard University’s authorization to enroll foreign students under a federal sponsorship program, a decision that was temporarily blocked in court.

Earlier this year, thousands of international students already in the US saw their legal status revoked, prompting legal challenges. While the administration later reinstated their status, it simultaneously expanded the conditions under which student visas could be terminated.

The intensified vetting includes detailed reviews of applicants’ social media activity, a policy introduced during Trump’s presidency and carried over into the Biden administration.

Extended delays in processing student visas could disrupt academic plans for the upcoming summer and fall terms, potentially impacting university enrollment and revenue. Many US institutions rely heavily on international students, who typically pay full tuition, to offset declines in public funding and research grants.