May 28, Kathmandu-The administration of US President Donald Trump has ordered American embassies worldwide to halt the scheduling of new appointments for student visa applicants, as it prepares to broaden the scope of social media vetting for such individuals. According to an official memo, social media screening will be expanded for both student and foreign exchange visa applicants—a move expected to have "significant implications" for embassies and consulates. The decision comes amid a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on what it perceives as left-leaning bias in elite American universities, particularly in response to pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, which the administration claims reflect a failure to address antisemitism.

China has expressed concern over the decision, urging the United States to safeguard the rights of international students, including the large number of Chinese nationals who study in the US. American universities are also likely to be affected, as many rely heavily on international students who typically pay higher tuition fees. Under standard procedure, prospective international students are required to attend interviews at US embassies in their home countries before receiving visa approval.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that the vetting process remains a priority, stating, "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." The memo, which was obtained by CBS News, instructs embassies to cancel any unscheduled appointments for student visas but allows previously scheduled interviews to proceed. The suspension will remain in place "until further guidance is issued," according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The memo also revealed that the State Department is preparing to implement an expanded requirement for social media screening for all student visa applicants, though it did not specify what content or behavior would be flagged during the process. Earlier reports, including one from The Guardian, indicated that the Trump administration had already intensified social media vetting of student visa holders, linking the measure to a broader effort to suppress pro-Palestinian activism on US campuses. In April, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would begin considering antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as potential grounds for denying immigration benefits.