US suspends student visa processing amid plans to expand social media screening

The Trump administration is considering a significant expansion of social media vetting for foreign students applying to study in the United States.

In anticipation of this broadened scrutiny, US embassies and consular offices have been instructed to pause scheduling new visa interviews for student applicants, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The directive, dated May 27 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, orders consular sections to halt adding appointment capacity for F, M, and J visa categories—covering student and exchange visitors—until further guidance is issued. The cable states, “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 (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel, which we anticipate in the coming days.” (Septel is the State Department shorthand for “separate telegram.”)

While the administration had previously implemented social media checks, those measures were primarily aimed at students returning from abroad who may have participated in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The new, expanded vetting is expected to be broader, though the cable does not explicitly detail the specific screening criteria. However, it references executive orders focused on counterterrorism and combating antisemitism.

State Department officials have reportedly expressed frustration over vague guidelines from previous vetting efforts. Questions remain about what kinds of social media activity—such as posting photos of a Palestinian flag—might trigger additional scrutiny. The administration has also targeted universities it perceives as too liberal or tolerant of antisemitism, including elite institutions like Harvard, while conducting immigration crackdowns that have affected numerous students.

The decision has sparked strong criticism from the higher education community. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, condemned the pause, saying, “The idea that the embassies have the time, the capacity and taxpayer dollars are being spent this way is very problematic. International students are not a threat to this country. If anything, they’re an incredible asset to this country.”

Tech companies whose platforms would likely be involved in the vetting—such as Meta, Google, Snap, TikTok, Discord, Bluesky, Reddit, and X—declined to comment on the policy. The State Department also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

If enacted, the expanded vetting and visa appointment freeze could severely slow student visa processing, potentially impacting US universities that depend heavily on foreign students for both enrollment and financial support.

By Vafa Guliyeva