The U.S. State Department has stopped scheduling new student and exchange visa appointments for people from other countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to pause all new bookings for these types of visas.
This action comes as the government plans to introduce stricter screening measures. These new rules may include checking applicants’ social media accounts. Even though the final rules are not ready yet, the visa pause has already started.
The State Department said the decision is part of a wider effort to examine all foreign visitors more carefully. However, no further details were shared about how long the pause will last.
At the same time, concerns are growing about how political views could impact visa decisions. Officials say that supporting Palestinians or criticizing Israel may lead to visa denial or even deportation. They claim such opinions could go against U.S. foreign policy or suggest support for groups seen as a threat.
Some cases have already gained attention. One involved a Turkish student in the U.S. who was held for weeks after writing an article that disagreed with her university’s position on the Gaza conflict.
Tensions between top U.S. universities and the Trump administration are also rising. Harvard University has been banned from accepting new foreign students after it refused to follow new federal orders.
International students make up more than a quarter of Harvard’s total enrollment. They are important to the university’s learning environment and finances. The ban is expected to cause major problems for the school.
Experts in law and education say these changes could reshape higher education in the U.S. They warn that political checks and limits on speech may discourage global students from coming.