The State Department has paused the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students aiming to study in the U.S., as it gears up to broaden the examination of their social media activity, according to officials. This marks a significant development in the U.S. visa application process.
An anonymous U.S. official disclosed on Tuesday that this temporary suspension does not impact applicants who have already secured their interviews. This information was shared under the condition of anonymity as it pertains to an internal administration document.
A directive signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and obtained by The Associated Press, indicates plans for new guidance on expanded social media vetting. “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 the guidance is issued, the cable states.
During a briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized the comprehensive resources used to screen visa applicants. “We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce remarked.
This initiative, initially reported by Politico, represents the latest move in the Trump administration’s effort to tighten policies on international students. Recently, the administration withdrew Harvard University’s capability to enroll international students, removing it from the program that permits institutions to sponsor foreign students for visas. This action was promptly contested in court and has been temporarily halted by a federal judge.
Earlier this year, the legal status of thousands of international students in the U.S. was revoked, prompting some to depart due to deportation concerns. Although successful legal challenges led to the restoration of their legal status, the administration has since expanded the criteria for terminating the legal status of international students.
Under President Donald Trump, the scrutiny of all visa applicants was intensified, including the review of social media accounts, a policy that persisted into President Joe Biden’s term.
The extended halt in visa scheduling could result in delays affecting students’ plans to start their studies in summer or fall semesters. This potential decline in international student enrollment might have financial implications for universities, which have increasingly relied on full-tuition paying international students to offset reductions in federal research funding.
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