New student visa interviews are temporarily halted in the US as the Trump administration considers requiring social media screening of all international students seeking to study abroad
It has been revealed that the Trump Administration is considering requiring social media screening of all foreign students seeking to study in the U.S. In preparation for this new screening, it has also been revealed that the Trump Administration has ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to suspend scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants.
Trump team pauses new student visa interviews as it weighs expanding social media vetting - POLITICO
US pauses scheduling visa interviews for foreign students | AP News
https://apnews.com/article/student-visa-social-media-d71aa33ff756c1383b362f69bf5b7a17
Trump administration orders US embassies to stop student visa interviews | US news | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/27/international-student-visa-trump
US suspends student visa processing as Trump ramps up social media vetting
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/28/us-suspends-student-visa-processing-as-trump-ramps-up-social-media-vetting_6741750_4.html
The cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained exclusively by POLITICO, states that 'in preparation for expanded social media screening and review, Consular Sections should not grant additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment slots until further guidance is issued regarding a 'separate cable' expected soon.'
While universities have imposed some social media screening requirements in the past, they have been very specific, primarily for returning students who may have participated in protests against Israeli actions in Gaza.
The cable doesn't directly address what will be screened for in the social media review, but it does reference presidential orders aimed at eliminating terrorists and combating anti-Semitism, which could lead to similar screening.
If the Trump administration were to require social media screening of international students, it could significantly slow the student visa process and deal a blow to many universities that rely heavily on international students to shore up their financial base.
Additionally, according to an Associated Press report, the suspension of interviews is limited to 'new interviews,' and visa interviews that are already scheduled will go ahead as scheduled.
Many State Department officials have privately complained for months that existing guidance, such as on vetting students who may have participated in campus protests, is vague. For example, the existing guidance is unclear as to whether a student who posted a photo of a Palestinian flag to their X (formerly Twitter) account would be forced to undergo additional vetting.
The Trump administration has imposed various rules on universities, particularly prestigious ones like Harvard, accusing them of being overly liberal and allowing anti-Semitism to flourish on their campuses, while also cracking down on immigration, which has involved many students.
The news has been met with much discontent in the higher education community, with
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the US is using all available tools to vet visa applicants, and that 'we will continue to use all tools to evaluate who is coming here, whether they're a student or not.'
Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, declined to comment on POLITICO's report. Spokespeople for other platforms, including Google, Snap, X, TikTok, Discord, Bluesky and Reddit, also did not respond to questions about the policy.
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