The Trump administration has ordered a temporary freeze on student and exchange visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide as it prepares to roll out stricter vetting measures, including expanded scrutiny of social media activity. The directive, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio via an internal State Department cable on Tuesday, affects thousands of international students awaiting entry to the United States for academic and cultural exchange programs.
The cable, obtained by Politico, instructs diplomatic posts to pause any additional interview appointments for F (student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor) visas. The move comes as the administration signals a shift toward more aggressive social media monitoring as part of its broader immigration policy.
“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor … visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” the cable reads.
While the pause is temporary, it has already generated significant uncertainty among international students, many of whom have secured admission to U.S. universities but are now left in limbo during peak visa season ahead of the fall semester.
The decision comes on the heels of recent Department of Homeland Security actions to screen for online content linked to antisemitic behavior or affiliations with terrorist organizations. The State Department is reportedly planning to incorporate similar standards into its visa adjudication process.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce defended the measure during a press briefing, emphasizing national security concerns.
“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country,” Bruce said. “Whether they be students or tourists, or whoever you are, we’re going to be looking at you. It seems to be a controversial thing that’s going on, but it shouldn’t be. Every nation takes seriously who they allow to enter.”
According to Bruce, the additional screening is not intended to target any particular group, but rather to ensure that those entering the United States do not pose a threat based on their online behavior or affiliations.
The administration’s push for tighter controls follows Secretary Rubio’s testimony before a Senate appropriations subcommittee last week, where he confirmed that the State Department has already revoked “probably in the thousands” of visas, with further reviews underway.
The visa freeze is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to clamp down on perceived threats within the U.S. higher education system. Last week, the administration attempted to terminate the remaining $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard University, citing alleged “pro-terrorist conduct” on campus. A federal judge temporarily blocked that move after Harvard filed suit.
Critics have expressed concern that the latest actions could further isolate U.S. institutions from international academic talent, damage foreign relations, and feed a perception that the U.S. is becoming increasingly hostile to international students.
Higher education leaders are urging the administration to reconsider the visa freeze, warning that disruptions to student mobility could have long-term effects on American universities and the broader economy.
Despite the outcry, Rubio has signaled that additional steps are forthcoming, stating during his Senate remarks: “I don’t know the latest count [of revoked visas], but we probably have more to do.”
