State Department orders embassies to pause student visa appointments as it considers expanding social media vetting
CNN
The US State Department has instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments as it develops guidance to expand “social media screening and vetting” to all applicants for student visas, according to a diplomatic cable seen by CNN.
The US State Department has instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments as it develops guidance to expand “social media screening and vetting” to all applicants for student visas, according to a diplomatic cable seen by CNN. It’s the latest move from the Trump administration that could deter international students from studying at universities in the United States. The cable, issued on Tuesday morning and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes as the Trump administration has revoked scores of student visas and after it moved to stop foreign students from studying at Harvard University, a move that has been halted by a judge for the time being. The cable states that the State Department “is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants.” The State Department had already called for social media vetting of some applicants, largely related to alleged antisemitism. However, an expansion of the efforts could severely slow down the overall student visa issuance process. Politico was first to report the news.
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