US Puts a Hold on Student Visas—Your Entry May Be Blocked by Social Media Posts

International students who were wanting to study in the United States recently encountered a significant obstacle. According to the U.S. State Department, all interviews for new student and exchange visitor visas have been placed on hold, and embassies are not allowed to make any more appointments for F, M, or J visas until further notice.

And why? The main focus is social media.

Consular offices were instructed to wait while the government is ready to implement more extensive social media screening for prospective students. The action is a component of the Trump administration’s larger effort to enforce stricter immigration laws and crack down on what it views as possible security risks, some of which can be found in students’ internet use.

Executive directives pertaining to counterterrorism and antisemitism are mentioned in the cable, but it doesn’t specify what officials will be searching for. Many questions remain, particularly as advocacy organizations and academic institutions wonder how far this surveillance will extend.

Could a student face additional scrutiny or maybe have their visa denied for posting a pro-Palestine message? That is uncertain. However, it’s certain that foreign students are now being watched closely, and many of them are becoming caught up in a political storm they didn’t request.