The US has temporarily suspended new student and exchange visitor visa interviews at embassies and consulates around the world, Africanews reported on May 28th.
The Trump administration is preparing to introduce more stringent social media screening measures for international applicants.
A memo from the State Department appears to have instructed embassies and consulates to remove unscheduled appointments from their systems. Interviews that have already been scheduled will continue as planned. The freeze will remain in place until new guidance is given.
The move is part of what officials describe as a broader effort to increase vetting of prospective international students, with a particular focus on their online activity. While exact details of the updated checks have not been made public, the shift reflects growing scrutiny over the role of social media in immigration decisions.
The policy change comes against a backdrop of heightened political pressure on universities. President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of higher education institutions, accusing them of allowing antisemitism on campus under the guise of pro-Palestinian activism. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that expressions of antisemitism, either online or in person, could influence immigration outcomes.
The Chinese government responded with concern, calling on the US to respect the freedoms of foreign students. Chinese nationals represent one of the largest international student populations in the United States.
Universities, many of which rely on higher tuition fees from international students, are expected to push back against the visa freeze. Several are already engaged in legal challenges with the administration over funding cuts and revoked visas.
Trump has targeted several elite institutions in recent weeks – most notably, Harvard University where he halted federal grants and tried to remove the university’s power to host international scholars.
The DHS statement accused Harvard of fostering an unsafe university atmosphere for Jewish students, citing incidents involving “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators,” Africanews via AP reported on May 23rd.
To reverse this suspension, the DHS gave Harvard a 72-hour window to provide records on foreign students involved in campus protests including audio or video footage, according to Africanews via AP. A federal court blocked that effort last week.
Academics and free speech advocates warn that the government’s actions may weaken constitutional safeguards and harm the reputation of the US university system, internationally.
Africanews, AP
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