U.S. Suspends New Student Visas Amid Expanded Antisemitism Screening Push
WASHINGTON, DC — May 30, 2025 In a major policy shift, the U.S. State Department has temporarily halted all new visa appointments for international students and exchange visitors as it prepares to roll out enhanced social media screening procedures. The move, announced in a May 2025 cable to consular offices worldwide, affects F, M, and J visa categories and comes amid the Trump administration’s broader campaign to counter perceived antisemitism and foreign influence on American college campuses.
The expanded vetting is expected to require thorough reviews of applicants' social media histories for content that could be interpreted as antisemitic or supportive of terrorist organizations. This policy follows months of criticism from administration officials about elite universities—Harvard in particular—allegedly tolerating antisemitic rhetoric, especially in the wake of global campus protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Civil rights and legal experts warn that the new screening process raises serious First Amendment and due process concerns. They argue that the criteria for assessing online speech are vague, potentially leading to arbitrary or biased visa denials. University administrators also worry the suspension could disrupt academic programs, deter prospective students, and damage the U.S.’s reputation as a global leader in higher education.
International students contributed nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023–24 academic year, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. The pause in visa processing could jeopardize that economic benefit and complicate university enrollment plans just months ahead of the fall semester. The timeline for reinstating appointments remains unclear.****