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 U.S. State Department has announced it will soon resume scheduling interviews for overseas visa applications, while stating that the screening process will now include social media vetting.

The US State Department told embassies and consulates they must vet student visa applicants for “hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles” but said they may resume appointments that were paused in late May.