The Trump administration has recently ordered US embassies around the world to cease scheduling new visa interview appointments for foreign students and exchange visitors. This decision was communicated in an internal cable, which news agencies have obtained, signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The memo stated, “The Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants. Based on that review, plans are underway to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants.”
The immediate implication of this cable is that consulate sections should not add any additional appointment capacity for student or exchange visitor visas, effective immediately. Most international students hold the F-1 visa, while J-1 and M-1 visas cater to students involved in exchange programs and vocational training respectively.
According to a US official who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously, this suspension is temporary and will not affect those who have already scheduled their visa interviews. However, the duration of the halt remains unclear.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce refrained from commenting directly on the memo but emphasized that the US would employ every possible means to screen entrants into the country. “We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce stated during a regular news briefing.
The impact of this decision comes at a time when the number of international students in US institutions has reached an all-time high. The 2023-2024 academic year saw 1.13 million international students enrolled in US colleges and universities, according to the annual Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the US State Department. This represents a 6.6 percent increase from the previous year.
Among these international students, a significant majority hail from Asia, with 71.5 percent of the total. Leading the pack is India, which contributed 331,602 students, followed by China at 277,398 students. South Korea ranked third with 43,149 students. European nations combined sent 90,600 students, making up roughly 8 percent of the international student demographics.
Several US universities are known for hosting large numbers of international students. For instance, Harvard University administrates around 6,800 international students, constituting about 27 percent of its total student body. Yale, Northwestern University, and New York University all have substantial international populations as well, with numbers ranging from 22 to 30 percent of their enrolments. Notably, New York University leads the pack with 27,247 international students for the 2023-2024 academic year, followed by Northeastern University with 21,023 students, and Columbia University with 20,321 students.
The current pause in visa interviews raises concerns regarding new student admissions for the upcoming academic term. The timeline for international students typically aligns with admissions decisions announced by universities between late March and early April, and Fulbright final decisions are made in a rolling basis from March to June. Students usually apply for visas after receiving their acceptance letters, and the processing time can take from several weeks to a few months.
While the US State Department indicates that F-1 student visas can be granted up to 365 days in advance, students can only enter the country no more than 30 days before their program starts.
Moreover, the implications of this policy are equally uncertain for students currently in the US who may need to renew their visas. The standard F-1 student visa is valid for five years, and renewal mirrors the application process, requiring students to fill out an online form and schedule an interview at a US embassy outside the country. Given that undergraduate programs are generally four years, many PhD students, whose programs can extend from three to eight years, may find themselves needing visa renewals in the middle of their studies.
Adding to the context of these policy changes, it appears that this is part of a broader trend initiated by the Trump administration to impose stricter regulations on international students, particularly those who express political tensions regarding sensitive issues. Recent incidents, including the case of Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD candidate in urban planning at Columbia University, illustrate this issue.
Srinivasan had her student visa revoked by the US State Department earlier this year, despite its validity extending until 2029. She indicated that her visa was targeted due to her speech and social media activities, which included critical commentary on Israel’s actions in Gaza. Srinivasan claimed that her advocacy for Palestinian rights and peaceful resolutions posed risks to her educational journey in the US.
Reflecting on the implications of visa policy and political association, Srinivasan articulated a concerning viewpoint. “If supporting the idea of human rights or ending a genocide is equated with supporting Hamas, then anyone in proximity to me – without me having done anything – can just be picked up and made an example of,” she stated in an interview.
This latest move by the Trump administration, coupled with the current suspension of student visa interviews, underscores the intersection of immigration policy, education, and civil liberties in the United States. The coming weeks will likely provide further clarity on how these decisions will unfold, affecting thousands of prospective international students hoping to study in the US.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/28/us-pauses-new-student-visas-what-it-means-and-who-it-will-affect
