Criticised Trump Online: Will It Affect Your US Student Visa?

Criticised Trump Online: US President Donald Trump's administration has ordered embassies to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants.

In a copy of a memo sent to diplomatic posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the pause would last "until further guidance is issued".

The cable, widely reported by US media on Tuesday, ordered embassies and consulates not to allow “any additional student or exchange visa… appointment capacity until further guidance is issued”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a cable first reported by Politico, directed consular sections to halt new appointments for F, M, and J visa categories until updated guidance on social media vetting is issued.

Appointments already scheduled can proceed under existing protocols, but available appointments not already taken should be pulled down.

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“The Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor visa applicants,” the cable stated. It added that new guidance will expand social media vetting for all such applicants.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening, consulate sections should not add additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity,” it said.

On Tuesday, news broke that America’s State Department has instructed its embassies all over the world to hold off on scheduling new student visa interviews. According to several reports, the Trump administration wants student visa applicants to undergo expanded social media vetting checks. New appointments have been paused as the administration puts these new procedures into place. However, it’s currently unclear what these expanded vetting procedures will entail. To be sure, American authorities have required applications for various types of visas --- including student visas --- to provide their social media accounts details for some years now. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said America will use “every tool in our tool chest to vet anyone coming in, who wants to come into this country”.

The latest decision hits Indian students particularly hard since India is among the largest sources of foreign students studying in America. 331,602 Indian students were in the United States in 2023-24, according to the Open Doors 2024 report on International Educational Exchange.

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As the US academic year begins in August for most students, thousands of Indian students with offers from American universities are currently in the process of applying for a student visa.

Should the pause of new visa appointments extend for a considerable period of time, many may be unable to obtain a student visa in time. However, reports indicate that those who have already confirmed their student visa appointments can still go ahead with the application process.

"We do know, though, that we take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country, and we're going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to vet. Whether you're a student or a tourist who needs a visa, or whoever you are, we're going to be looking at you. Why would it seem to be such a controversial thing that's going on? But it shouldn't be," Tammy Bruce said.

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