The Trump administration paused new student visa interviews at the end of May, amid plans to increase vetting of potential visa holders. Over 400,000 student visas were issued in Fiscal Year 2024; however, the pause put new issuances at risk for the next academic year.

The State Department will review the social-media accounts of foreign student visa applicants, and applicants will be expected to have all social media profiles set to “public.” “The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country,

Consular officers are being told to look for "indications of hostility" toward the U.S., its culture, principles or citizens.