U.S. Halts Student Visa Interviews Amid Plans for Stricter Vetting

Rubio directive signals major shift in vetting rules for international students

The U.S. State Department has ordered a temporary halt to scheduling new student visa interviews worldwide, as the Trump administration considers tightening vetting procedures for foreign students—particularly by expanding reviews of applicants’ social media activity.

In a directive sent Tuesday to American embassies and consulates, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed officials to stop adding appointments for student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J categories) until new guidelines are issued. Interviews already scheduled will proceed as planned.

This move is the latest in a series of measures aimed at restricting foreign students’ access to U.S. universities, citing concerns over national security and antisemitism. Rubio indicated that updated instructions regarding the new vetting protocols are expected in the coming days.

The administration is reportedly exploring the possibility of expanding social media screening to include platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram, in an effort to identify potential security risks.

This shift follows a controversial case involving Rümeysa Öztürk, a doctoral student at Tufts University who was arrested after co-authoring an op-ed expressing support for Palestinians in Gaza. Rubio referenced this incident in March, arguing that students who seek to engage in protests or disruptive activities should not be granted visas.

“If you’re coming to the U.S. to be a student and participate in movements that involve vandalism, harassment, or disruption, you’re not going to get a visa,” Rubio said.

The visa freeze comes shortly after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling new international students—a move quickly overturned by a federal judge. The administration is also moving to cancel federal contracts with Harvard, which amount to roughly $100 million, and former President Trump has threatened to withdraw additional grant funding from the university.

Despite the administration’s hardline stance, there are voices advocating a more balanced approach. Speaking on Fox Business last week, Harvard Business School professor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary emphasized the value international students bring to the U.S.

“These students are incredibly talented and patriotic,” O’Leary said. “Let’s vet them properly, and once they graduate, let them stay, start businesses, and create jobs here. That’s why they came in the first place.”

The State Department and DHS have not yet responded to requests for comment on the new visa directive.

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