Chicago – May 27, 2025
The U.S. State Department has told its embassies and consulates around the world to pause making new student visa appointments. This decision comes as the government plans to expand the process of checking social media for all student visa applicants.
This move is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to limit the number of international students coming to study in the United States. The State Department announced that it is reviewing its current procedures for screening student visa applications and will soon offer new guidelines for checking social media.
The government had already been looking at the social media of some applicants, especially to search for signs of antisemitism. However, expanding this process to all applicants could delay the approval of student visas.
If the pause on new appointments continues, it could lead to a large backlog, as student visa appointments are usually a priority at this time of year. Many U.S. universities depend on the tuition paid by international students. According to the Institute of International Education, more than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions during the 2023-2024 school year.
