Following the United States Department of State (“DOS”) announcement to suspend F, M, and J student visa applications at Embassies and Consulates in response to implementing new policies aimed at social media vetting, DOS has released additional information.
While this action immediately impacts plans of foreign and exchange students, DOS has made it clear that it does not stop program operations.
- The pause is temporary. The new measures are in response to the Trump administration’s requirement that all foreign and exchange students applying to study in the United States undergo social media vetting. The pause will be lifted once DOS develops social media scrutiny guidance which will be implemented for all F, M and J student visa applicants.
- The pause is expected to be short-term. According to DOS Secretary Marco Rubio, the pause is needed “until further guidance is issued […] which we anticipate in the coming days”. The endpoint is expected to be within days, not weeks or months. The DOS has also encouraged F, M, and J visa student visa applicants to continue submitting DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa applications.
- The pause only affects new appointments. Embassies and Consulates have been instructed not to schedule new appointments until the new vetting procedures are in place. F, M, and J student visa applicants who have been scheduled prior to the announcement should not be affected.
- This is not a program or travel ban. Program operations continue and applicants who have recently started or about to start their applications should proceed as planned. Should program dates need to be amended, colleges and universities should be able to work with impacted students.
All F, M, and J student visa applicants are encouraged to review their social media accounts. Deleting all social media accounts may result in a denial as an interviewing consular officer may conclude that the applicant closed the accounts to hide adverse information.
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