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 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.

The United States is directing its U.S. diplomatic missions abroad to resume student visa applications, but is requiring applicants to make their social media profiles public for vetting purposes, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday.