The trump administration has halted the scheduling of all new visa interviews for international students after warning them repeatedly and blocking Harvard financing. The new action is taken as the US Department of State prepares to conduct social media screening prior to issuing visas.
 
Following a review, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio advised consulates to halt the scheduling of such visa appointments and stated in an internal letter obtained by Reuters that the department intends to release updated guidelines on social media screening of student and exchange visitor applications.

The action, which is part of a larger State Department proposal to require social media screening for all foreign students to study in the United States, may cause delays in student visa processing and put a financial burden on US colleges.  What exactly is social media vetting, though? 

What is social media Vetting?
Examining an applicant's internet behavior to determine their eligibility for admission is known as social media vetting.  To decide if prospective students should be permitted to enroll in US universities, officials will examine their social media accounts.  The trump administration's broader crackdown on foreign students in the wake of last year's massive pro-Palestine demonstrations on American campuses is thought to include this program.
 
This is only a few days after the trump administration requested Harvard University's international student records.  Some social media screening measures were previously enforced by the donald trump administration, although they were primarily intended to screen returning students.

WHAT WILL VETTING INCLUDE?
Although the State Department's instruction made reference to executive orders intended to prevent terrorists and combat antisemitism, it did not go into detail about the kind of thorough screening the administration is proposing.
 
"It’s unclear, for example, whether posting photos of a Palestinian flag on an X account could force a student to undergo additional scrutiny," according to a Politico article.
 
In the past, social media posts have led to actions being taken against both students and teachers.
 
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a professor at Brown University, was deported in march after it was discovered that her phone included pictures of Iran's supreme leader.  In February, she had also gone to the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah.  

WHAT ABOUT SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS?
Students who already have appointments set up don't need to worry about anything.  Rubio stated in the message that these appointments can go forward in accordance with the present policies, but that any open appointments that haven't been taken should be removed.
 
"The Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants," the cable stated.
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G GOWTHAM

28/05/2025 11:45 AM