The Trump administration has halted visa interviews for international students.
A White House official reported that the Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies worldwide to temporarily stop scheduling visa appointments for new students.
The State Department in a cable to embassy officials wrote, “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued [separate telegram], which we anticipate in the coming days.”
The move by the Trump administration comes as they have deported dozens of pro-Palestine protesters who were attending universities in the United States on student visas.
Trump admin tells US embassies to halt student visa interviews: Reports https://t.co/GMfnOnnlDg
— The Hill (@thehill) May 27, 2025
Check out what The Hill reported:
The Trump administration directed U.S. embassies and consulates around the world Tuesday to halt scheduling visa interviews for international students as it weighs expanding “social media screening and vetting” for applicants.
A White House official told NewsNation that the Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies to temporarily stop scheduling new student visa appointments.
The State Department issued an internal cable Tuesday, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that “effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued [separate telegram], which we anticipate in the coming days,” multiple outlets reported.
When reached for comment, the State Department told The Hill it does not discuss internal communications.
The development could lead to delays in processing student visas and hamper colleges and universities that depend on payments from international students.
🚨BREAKING: The Trump administration has paused international student visas as it weighs dramatically expanding social media vetting of applicants.
According to a State Department cable signed by Sec. Rubio, the administration is ordering U.S. embassies and consular sections to… pic.twitter.com/cV1OxcKlbc
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 27, 2025
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