Us Suspends Student Visa Issuance Amid Social Media Review Plans

The U.S. State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, has instructed embassies worldwide to temporarily suspend issuing new student visas. This decision precedes the potential implementation of mandatory social media checks for international students seeking to study in the United States. The planned social media reviews aim to align with presidential orders focused on preventing terrorism and combating antisemitism. This suspension will affect F, M, and J visa applicants. Previous social media checks were primarily aimed at returning students possibly involved in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza. Concerns have been raised within the State Department regarding the ambiguity of the guidelines for these reviews. The suspension could significantly delay visa processes, impacting U.S. universities that heavily rely on international student enrollment. The government has recently taken measures against universities accused of tolerating antisemitism on campus.