On May 27, the Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to halt the scheduling of new student and exchange visitor visa interviews. The State Department is preparing to roll out expanded screening of visa applicants’ social media activity, with new guidelines expected soon. The pause does not affect interviews already scheduled, but all unbooked slots have been withdrawn until further notice.
The State Department said this measure is temporary, but education experts warn that even a short delay could disrupt plans for thousands of students hoping to begin studies in the U.S. this summer or fall.
This move is part of a broader crackdown on international students. In recent months, the Trump administration has revoked the legal status of thousands of students and stepped up efforts to scrutinize and potentially revoke visas, particularly for students involved in pro-Palestinian activism. The expanded social media screening will require consular officers to review applicants’ online posts and retain any flagged content, even if deleted.
The Department of Homeland Security recently moved to revoke Harvard’s certification to host international students, which would prevent the university from enrolling new foreign students and force current international students to leave or transfer. This action is currently on hold after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, but the legal battle continues.
The administration has also frozen certain federal funding streams to Harvard and threatened the university’s tax-exempt status.
The administration has also announced a focus on Chinese scholars, citing national security concerns.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed last week that the U.S. will begin “aggressively” revoking visas for Chinese students, specifically targeting those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those studying in “critical fields” such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Chinese students make up about a quarter of all international students in the U.S.
Details about how the new policy will be implemented remain unclear, including the criteria for visa revocation and the timeline for enforcement. The State Department has not specified how many students will be affected or what constitutes a “critical field” or sufficient connection to the CCP. Immigration attorneys caution that even students protected by recent court injunctions could still lose their visas, leaving them unable to travel or continue their studies.
