Trump administration halts student visa interviews amid social media review expansion

The Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies to suspend scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students as it prepares to expand social media screening for all international student visa applicants. A State Department cable, obtained by The Guardian, instructed consular offices to pause appointments for F, M, and J visa categories until further guidance is issued.

The directive follows earlier measures targeting students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, which required consular officers to review and document potentially concerning social media content. The new policy would apply these checks to all student visa applicants, including their activity on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X.

Officials say the move is part of broader efforts to enhance national security. Critics warn the freeze could delay visa processing and harm U.S. universities, which rely heavily on international student enrollment. According to NAFSA, foreign students contributed nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy during 2023–2024.