Trump freezes US student visa interviews amid social media vetting plan
Pause applies to all F, M and J category visa appointments globally
DUBAI: The Trump administration has suspended new student visa interviews across US embassies worldwide as it gears up to implement stricter social media screening for international applicants.
A diplomatic cable obtained by POLITICO confirms that the directive, dated May 27 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructs consular sections not to schedule additional student or exchange visitor visa appointments “until further guidance is issued.”
This sweeping move marks a significant escalation in the administration’s clampdown on elite academic institutions and foreign students, many of whom are central to the financial and academic success of US universities.
Social media screening
The memo, circulated globally to US diplomatic missions, indicates that all applicants under the F, M, and J visa categories are subject to the pause. This includes students seeking to begin new academic programmes, researchers, and exchange visitors. While the memo does not specify the exact nature of the upcoming vetting measures, it references executive orders linked to counterterrorism and anti-antisemitism directives.
The proposed expansion follows earlier steps by the Trump administration that focused social media scrutiny on returning students who may have participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or posted content deemed controversial. Now, the net appears to be widening.
Past directives to consular officials have reportedly been vague, with State Department insiders privately expressing confusion over what qualifies as red-flag behaviour. Uncertainty lingers, for instance, over whether displaying a Palestinian flag on social media could result in visa denial or additional vetting procedures.
Harvard in crosshairs
Harvard University has become a prime target in what observers describe as a broader effort to reshape the ideological foundations of higher education in the US. The Department of Homeland Security last week revoked the university’s authority to enrol international students, citing its failure to hand over records linked to alleged “illegal and violent activities” by visa holders.
The move triggered swift legal backlash. A federal judge suspended the decision, and a court hearing is scheduled for May 29 – coinciding with Harvard’s commencement ceremony. Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, labelled the administration’s actions a direct threat to academic freedom and international scholarly collaboration.
Harvard President Alan Garber responded to President Trump’s threat to revoke the school’s tax-exempt status, saying doing so would be "highly illegal" and "destructive."
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 2, 2025
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In a statement, Garber said the attempted ban “imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others.”
Trump’s administration, however, is not relenting. Officials have announced plans to sever financial ties with the university, requesting all federal agencies to identify and possibly cancel contracts with Harvard. These contracts are estimated to be worth around $100 million.
Broader crackdown
The latest visa freeze fits into a broader campaign against what the Trump administration perceives as left-leaning institutions promoting anti-American values. The White House has accused universities such as Harvard of fostering antisemitism under the guise of pro-Palestinian activism.
Simultaneously, funding for higher education has been slashed, with $2.65 billion in federal grants to Harvard already frozen and student visas revoked in large numbers. Though many of these efforts have been temporarily blocked by the courts, the pressure on academia continues to mount.
International reactions
The move has drawn global attention. China, home to hundreds of thousands of students studying in the US, has publicly urged Washington to respect the rights of international students. A Chinese official called on the US to “earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of international students.”
So far, platforms such as Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat have declined to comment on the implications of the new screening initiative.
The State Department, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped. A spokesperson simply reaffirmed that the department “takes very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country.”
Despite growing resistance from universities, alumni groups, and legal experts, the Trump administration is signalling no intention of backing down. In a recent post, Trump branded foreign students at elite schools as “radicalised lunatics, troublemakers,” reiterating his pledge to overhaul the country’s immigration and education systems.