NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, May 27, 2025: In a sweeping move that could affect thousands of international students, the Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to stop scheduling new interviews for student visas as it prepares to implement stricter vetting procedures.
A diplomatic cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructed consular officers to pause processing of F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visa applications while new security protocols are being finalized. The changes are part of a broader national security effort aimed at screening applicants’ social media profiles more rigorously.
The directive requires visa officers to refer certain applicants to the State Department’s Fraud Prevention Unit for an in-depth review of their online presence. Consular staff have been instructed to take and archive screenshots of any potentially concerning posts—even if such content is later deleted by the applicant.
Under the new rules, visas may be denied if an applicant’s social media activity appears to show support for groups such as Hamas or includes content deemed hostile toward U.S. culture, values, or citizens. Critics fear that vague definitions of “hostility” may result in arbitrary denials and infringe upon free speech.
The enhanced vetting will also apply retroactively to individuals who held student or exchange visas between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024, or whose visas were terminated during that period.
In defending the policy, Secretary Rubio emphasized, “Every visa decision is a national security decision.”
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from universities and civil rights groups. Higher education institutions, already facing challenges due to budget cuts and declining international enrollments, warn that the visa pause and new rules could have long-term repercussions.
Data from early 2025 shows that interest in U.S. colleges from international students dropped by nearly 50% between January and April. Experts fear the decline could reach 70% by year’s end if the trend continues.
Some universities, including Ivy League institutions, have already faced government funding cuts and restrictions on enrolling foreign students.
