The administration of President Donald Trump has directed U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide to halt the scheduling of new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants, as the State Department prepares to expand its social media screening protocols.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in the cable that the department will soon release updated guidelines on the vetting of applicants’ social media presence, pending the outcome of an ongoing review. In the meantime, consular sections have been instructed to pause the scheduling of new appointments for F, M, and J visa categories.
According to the document, first reported by Politico appointments already scheduled may proceed under existing rules, but all open, unscheduled slots should be withdrawn. The review is part of the administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls, including increasing deportations and revoking student visas.
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State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to confirm details of the cable but reiterated the government’s commitment to thorough screening. “We will continue to use every available tool to assess individuals seeking entry to the United States,” Bruce said during a press briefing.
The cable indicates that the expanded vetting measures will necessitate operational adjustments at consular posts, including changes to workflow and resource allocation. Missions have been advised to prioritise services for U.S. citizens, immigrant visa processing, and fraud prevention.
Critics of the Trump administration have condemned these measures as an infringement on free speech rights, particularly following recent incidents in which student visa holders faced detention or deportation over expressions of support for Palestinians or criticism of U.S. allies.
One such case involved a Turkish student from Tufts University who spent over six weeks in U.S. immigration detention after co-authoring an opinion piece critical of her university’s stance on the conflict in Gaza. She was later released on bail by a federal judge.
Last week, the administration escalated tensions by moving to revoke Harvard University’s authority to enrol international students, a population that comprises roughly 27% of its student body.
