The Trump administration has directed U.S. consulates worldwide to pause scheduling new visa appointments for international students, according to a State Department cable on Tuesday, May 27.
The memo instructs consular offices to halt additional F, M, and J visa appointment slots until further notice, citing upcoming expansions in social media screening protocols. The freeze takes effect immediately and is expected to cause significant delays, with consulates awaiting further instructions in the coming days.
While stakeholders expressed surprise, they clarified that only new interview scheduling is affected—previously booked appointments will proceed as planned. Studyportals CEO Edwin van Rest called the timing “particularly unfortunate,” as the freeze coincides with peak visa application season.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who signed the order, stated that the State Department is reviewing student visa screening processes, which have intensified since Trump took office. Since March, F, M, and J visa applicants have faced stricter social media checks under executive orders targeting antisemitism and terrorism. Previously, scrutiny focused on students linked to pro-Palestinian protests, but the new rules may extend vetting to all applicants.
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The move comes as U.S. higher education faces declining international interest amid political tensions, including efforts to bar Harvard from enrolling foreign students. At the NAFSA 2025 conference, ApplyBoard’s Steven Sintra urged institutions to focus on long-term growth, predicting that U.S. student mobility will rebound despite current volatility.
The State Department has not yet commented on the directive.