Trump administration halts scheduling of new student visa appointments

New York, May 27 (PTI) – In a recent development, the Trump administration has directed US embassies and consular sections to halt the scheduling of new interviews for student visa applicants. This move comes as the administration is considering implementing social media vetting for foreign individuals aspiring to study in the United States, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Politico reports that the Trump administration is contemplating mandatory social media vetting for all international students applying to study in the US.

In anticipation of this potential requirement, the administration instructs US embassies and consular sections to temporarily stop scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants. The report references a cable dated May 27, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The cable states, “Effective immediately, as we prepare to expand social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not allocate any new appointment slots for student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa applicants until further instructions are provided.” This refers to the State Department’s shorthand, “separate telegram,” for subsequent communications.

According to the report, should the administration proceed with this plan, it could “significantly delay” the processing of student visas. It could also adversely impact universities that rely heavily on foreign students for financial support.

This latest initiative follows closely on the heels of the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification. This decision prohibits Harvard from enrolling foreign students, necessitating existing international students to transfer or risk losing their legal status.

The Department of Homeland Security has accused Harvard’s leadership of fostering an “unsafe campus environment” by allegedly allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist activists to intimidate and physically assault individuals, including Jewish students, thus disrupting the institution’s previously esteemed educational environment.

The Politico report further notes that while the administration had already imposed certain social media screening measures, these primarily targeted returning students who might have participated in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The administration has intensified its crackdown on students involved in pro-Palestine campus demonstrations, leading to visa revocations and deportations of those engaged in such activities.

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