Immigration

United States | Trump administration orders US embassies to stop student visa interviews

Summary

Effective May 27, 2025, the Trump administration has halted the scheduling of all new US student visa interviews worldwide, affecting F, M, and J visa categories. This move is tied to a sweeping overhaul of vetting procedures, particularly focused on social media screening of applicants.

The detail

Impact on student visa applicants

What’s changing and why it matters

According to a State Department cable cited by multiple sources, including The Guardian and The Visa Code, US embassies and consulates have been instructed to suspend new interview appointment availability for student and exchange visitor visas. This change is reportedly part of an effort to intensify scrutiny of international students’ online activity for any perceived affiliations with terrorist organizations or “anti-American” content.

This policy introduces significant uncertainty for international students preparing to begin studies in the US in the upcoming academic year. With no clear timeline for resuming interview scheduling, applicants may face long delays. Furthermore, US universities, many of which depend on international enrollment for funding and research talent, could see major disruptions in enrollment for the fall calendar year.

Vialto recommendation on next steps

• Do not cancel any existing visa interview appointments—the freeze currently affects only new bookings. F-1 applicants who already have an existing interview scheduled should not cancel and be prepared to attend their appointment.
• Stay in close contact with your designated school official (DSO) and the US embassy or consulate in your area for real-time updates.
• Review and audit your social media presence to ensure it aligns with visa vetting standards, especially clarifying any content that could be misinterpreted.
• Explore alternative timelines or backup study destinations, especially if you’re on a tight enrollment schedule.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Manish Daftari
Partner

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