U.S. Stops New Student Visa Appointments for Now
The U.S. State Department has told its embassies and consulates around the world to stop giving new student visa appointments for now. This includes visas in the F, M, and J categories, which are for international students and people coming for exchange programs.
A message sent on Tuesday and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio says this pause will give time to create new rules. The U.S. government wants to start checking social media accounts of all student visa applicants more closely. They are reviewing how they currently check students and exchange visitors, and new rules will come after this review.
People who already have their interviews booked can still attend them. Only new appointments are paused.
Trump Administration Tightens Rules for International Students
This new action is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to make it harder for foreign students to study in the U.S. In the past, the administration also cancelled many student visas when it tried to stop foreign students from studying at Harvard University. A judge has temporarily blocked that move.
The government says these changes are for national security reasons. They also say that some students are using their time in the U.S. not just to study, but to protest or take part in movements they disagree with, including antisemitic behavior. Marco Rubio said, “If you say you want to be a student, but you plan to cause trouble on campus, you won’t get a visa.”
Trump Targets Harvard University
President Trump also said he would cancel U.S. government contracts with Harvard, worth about $100 million. He wants to take away billions in research money from top universities. Later, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cancelled two grants to Harvard, worth more than $2.7 million. These grants were for research and health programs.
The DHS said Harvard didn’t do enough to stop antisemitism and control protests on campus. Secretary Noem said Harvard has a big endowment—about $53.2 billion—so it doesn’t need taxpayer money.
The U.S. government also warned it could remove Harvard from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This would mean Harvard could no longer host international students unless it follows federal rules and gives information about students involved in crime or violence.
