NewsHail
28 May 2025
The US government has told its embassies to stop booking appointments for student visas. This is because they want to check social media more closely for all students and exchange visitors applying for visas. The pause will last until they give new instructions.
The order was sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Embassies were told to cancel any open appointments, but students who already have a scheduled appointment can still go ahead.
This is part of a bigger plan to watch social media more carefully for signs of risky behavior. The government says this will affect how embassies work.
The move comes as President Donald Trump criticizes some top US colleges. He says they are too left-wing and allow antisemitism and unfair admission rules. For example, Harvard University had its right to enroll foreign students taken away because it was said to be unsafe for Jewish students and to support pro-Hamas views. Harvard and other universities say this is against free speech.
Many Indian and other foreign students waiting for visas are affected by this pause. The US government is also reviewing the rules for student and exchange visitor visas.
