According to the cable, US missions abroad can resume scheduling student visa interviews, but are advised to do so in a manner that takes into account the increased workload expected from the enhanced screening procedures.
The cable, signed by secretary of state Marco Rubio, suggests that embassies will have to review applicants’ online presence, which goes beyond just social media activities and includes information in online databases, especially to identify any signs of “hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States”, as per a report by Politico.
Additionally, US embassy and consulate officials are instructed to flag any instances of “advocacy for, aid, or support of foreign terrorists and other threats to US national security,” as well as any signs of “anti-Semitic harassment and violence” among applicants, with support for Hamas cited as a particular example.
Consular officers will also be required to assess an applicant’s history of political activism and the likelihood of such activities continuing on US soil, and have been mandated to “take screenshots to preserve the record against possible later alteration or loss of the information”.
While the new requirements apply to both new and returning student visa applicants, including those who have not yet been interviewed, those whose interviews have been waived, and those who have been interviewed but not yet “approved”, none of the flagged factors would automatically make an applicant ineligible for a visa under US law.
However, any “suspicious” online content may trigger additional review to assess whether the applicant is likely to “engage only in activities consistent with their nonimmigrant visa status”.
According to Mark Kopenski, president and CEO of Global Student Recruitment Advisors, while the new requirements may cause processing delays as consulates adjust to updated social media vetting, they are unlikely to significantly impact most students.
“I was told privately by someone very close to all of this that there will be social media vetting of students online accounts aided by AI tools that will be looking for radical positions, primarily against the US and or its allies,” stated Kopenski.
“Students need not worry about this additional screening as it will be quick, and for 99% of the students, it is not an issue.”
Taking a similar tone, Ankit Mehra, co-founder and CEO of GyanDhan, stated that in his opinion, “students should not delete anything — the authorities likely have access to past data, and sudden changes might raise suspicion. It’s better to be transparent and prepared.”
The cable also instructed embassies to prioritize visa interviews for physicians applying for a “J-1” educational exchange visa and for students intending to study at US universities where international students make up 15% or less of the total enrolment.
According to a LinkedIn post by a US business immigration attorney, James Hollis, the State Department’s updated cable on student visa interviews confirms that all F, M, and J visa applicants, regardless of prior visa history, are now subject to more screening.
Those who clear the initial interview but keep their social media private will be refused under INA Section 221(g) and asked to make their profiles accessible for review.
Some stakeholders, like Girish Ballolla, founder and CEO, Gen Next Education believe that the move to mandate a public social media presence goes beyond just “weeding out extremists or preventing threats”, as it is also “about power, optics, and the subtle art of signaling who’s welcome and who isn’t.”
“The rationale may be cloaked in national security, but in reality, It reeks of fear and control. It tells a 18-year-old from Nairobi or Nagpur that before they ever step foot in a U.S. classroom, they must surrender their digital privacy and prove their ideological alignment. That being curious, critical, or even confused – as young people often are – might be grounds for denial,” stated Ballolla.
“As someone who believes in the power of education to bridge cultures and elevate global discourse, this feels like the wrong signal at the worst time. Yes, vetting matters. Yes, security matters. But transparency is not the same as exposure. And when we conflate the two, we risk turning our consulates into ideological checkpoints.”
The directive from the State Department comes just a week after the US for Success Coalition and NAFSA launched an advocacy campaign urging Congress to press the government to immediately resume student visa appointments.
The delay had left many international students struggling to reach campuses in time for the semester or take part in summer programs.
Stakeholders, who had described the pause in study visa interviews as “misguided” and “troubling,” also warned that simply reversing the decision would not result in an immediate resolution.
“Even if they quickly reverse course, already damage has been done. Those slots for visa interviews may no longer be available,” Presidents’ Alliance CEO Miriam Fledblum told The PIE at NAFSA 2025.
Additional social media vetting had been expected for nationwide implementation following a directive from Rubio calling for stricter scrutiny of Harvard applicants weeks ago.
The directive specifically highlighted anti-Semitism as the focus of the vetting process, naming Harvard as a “pilot” site for increased screening of international students, with plans to expand the initiative over time.
Just last week, the State Department instructed all US missions abroad to resume processing student and exchange visitor visas for Harvard University, following a federal judge’s decision in Boston to temporarily block President Donald Trump’s ban on international students at the grand-old Ivy League institution.
The Trump administration’s flip flop on international students are expected to lead uncertainty for the US education sector.
We will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!). We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!
Donald Trump, US President on Truth Social
What began as an endorsement of green cards for international students studying in the US has shifted toward a wave of restrictive policies, including a freeze on student visa interviews, threats to withdraw federal funding and international enrolment rights, and efforts to aggressively revoke study visas, based on one’s nationality.
But what again appeared to be a shift in tone, Trump announced on Wednesday that he had reached an agreement with China concerning students “using our colleges and universities,” just two weeks after US officials vowed to step up visa revocations for Chinese students and intensify reviewing of student visa applicants.
“Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me. Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China. Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!). We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent! Thank you for your attention to this matter!,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
