U.S. halts student visa appointments, adds social media checks

The United States government has suspended all new student and exchange visitor visa appointments at embassies and consulates worldwide, citing plans to implement stricter social media vetting for foreign applicants.

A diplomatic cable issued Tuesday by Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed U.S. missions globally to halt new interviews for F, M, and J visa categories until further notice. These visas cover international students and exchange visitors seeking education or cultural exchange opportunities in the U.S.

“Consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” the directive stated.

The move is the latest in a series of immigration policies from the Trump administration aimed at tightening oversight of international students. Authorities cite national security concerns and allege that some students engage in activism deemed disruptive or antisemitic on U.S. campuses.

While interviews already scheduled will still proceed, the global freeze has left thousands of prospective students in uncertainty. It also follows the controversial detention of a Tufts University doctoral student, Rümeysa Öztürk, after she co-authored an op-ed supporting Palestinians.

“If your goal is activism that disrupts campuses, we’re not going to give you a visa,” Rubio said, reinforcing the administration’s hardline stance.

The visa suspension also comes amid rising tensions between federal authorities and elite institutions like Harvard University. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently attempted to block Harvard from enrolling international students—a move overturned by a federal judge.

In addition, DHS has revoked $2.7 million in federal grants to Harvard over its alleged failure to tackle antisemitism and campus protests. The department has further threatened to strip the university of its student visa certification if it fails to comply with federal demands.

As debate intensifies, some business leaders like Kevin O’Leary have called for a more balanced approach, urging the U.S. to retain high-performing international students who contribute to job creation and economic growth.