United States President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered country’s embassies across the globe to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants.
In a copy of a memo sent to diplomatic posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the pause would last “until further guidance is issued”.
The message said social media vetting would be stepped up for student and foreign exchange visas, which would have “significant implications” for embassies and consulates.
It comes amid Trump’s feud with some of America’s most elite colleges, which he believes are too left-wing. He says some of them have enabled antisemitism on campus and uphold discriminatory admissions policies.
The state department memo directed US embassies on Tuesday to remove any unfilled appointments from their calendars for students seeking visas, but said those with appointments already scheduled could go ahead.
The diplomatic cable also said the state department was preparing for an “expansion of required social media screening and vetting” applicable to all student visa applications.
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Foreign students who want to study in the US are usually required to schedule interviews at an American embassy in their home country before approval.
Many institutions rely on foreign students for a significant chunk of their funding, as they often pay higher tuition fees.
When asked about student visas, state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday: “We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
Trump’s administration has been at loggerheads with several ivy league universities including Harvard University over the foreign students visa policies.
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