Student Visa Appointments Suspended
The Trump administration persists in enforcing restrictive measures concerning international students. Following a spate of widespread visa revocations and terminations of status actions affecting thousands of students, the administration last week requested that all consular posts suspend scheduling new student visa appointments until further guidance was received. This pause is to enable the U.S. government to establish enhanced protocols to check each student visa applicant’s social media accounts. This “pause” has created a furor of anxiety among international students as it is that time of the year when thousands of students apply for student visas to join the fall term at universities across the U.S.
Extra Vetting of Travelers to Harvard
To add to all this anxiety, the administration’s latest cable to visa officers requires them to increase their vetting for all applicants seeking a visa to travel to Harvard University, and this is not limited to only students. Although the announcement has not been officially published, several media outlets report that they have obtained or viewed a copy of the cable. Reports indicate that the directive advises consular officers to thoroughly review applicants’ social media profiles, even those with private settings. For instance, if consular officers learn during the visa interview that the applicant intends to study at Harvard, the visa will be refused until a thorough review of the applicant’s online activity is completed.
Student Visas Granted to Chinese Nationals Subject to Revocation
On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of State revealed its intention to cancel the visas of certain Chinese students, including those with “connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” However, it is not clear what constitutes critical fields. To increase security checks, the U.S. government is also going to revise the visa criteria that would apply to future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.
Final Thoughts
These actions, including the suspension of visa appointments, reflect the U.S. government’s broader effort to implement stricter screening measures for visa applicants by closely examining their social media activity. The goal is to enhance national security and reduce the risk of anti-Semitic behavior within the country.
The measures taken against visa applicants headed to Harvard may be expanded to other universities too. It remains unclear when the government will allow students to begin booking visa appointments. This uncertainty, combined with the evolving situation in the U.S., is causing considerable anxiety among students, prompting some to explore educational opportunities in other countries.
