US Halts Student Visas for Expanded Social Media Screening | JQJO

The US State Department has paused new student visa appointments globally to expand social media vetting for all applicants. This decision, stemming from a cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, follows the Trump administration's revocation of numerous student visas and attempts to block foreign students from Harvard. The pause, effective immediately, could create a significant backlog and hinder fall enrollment, impacting universities reliant on international student tuition. Lawyers express concern about the timing and potential negative impact on student enrollment. The State Department confirmed using various vetting tools but did not directly address the pause.