Trump authorities halt foreign student visa appointments temporarily

Trump authorities halt foreign student visa appointments temporarily

The Trump administration has recently implemented a new policy requiring social media vetting for all applicants seeking student visas (F, M, and J visas). This policy mandates that applicants make their social media profiles public for government review, with consular officers instructed to thoroughly examine applicants' entire online presence [1][2][3].

The State Department's directive to consular officers is to look for indications of hostility towards the U.S. or a history of political activism [1]. Refusal to make social media accounts public or having private accounts may be interpreted negatively and could potentially slow or prevent visa approval [2][3].

This new requirement expands previous policies that only required disclosure of social media handles; now, applicants must fully open their accounts to public view [2]. The vetting extends beyond social media to any online presence [3].

This expanded social media screening for visa applicants reflects a broadening surveillance effort under the Trump administration during its second term, impacting not only initial visa screening but also post-issuance monitoring and revocation efforts [1][2].

The policy has raised concerns about privacy violations and a chilling effect on free expression among international students [1][2][4]. The implementation of this policy could have dramatic repercussions on American colleges and universities, particularly financially, as many institutions rely heavily on foreign students for their finances [5].

The policy has faced legal challenges, with Harvard University filing a lawsuit against the edict. A judge issued a temporary restraining order, and after many students filed successful legal challenges, the administration said it was restoring the students' legal status [6].

The State Department has ordered embassies to stop scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants [7]. The government, however, expanded the grounds for terminating international students' legal status going forward [8]. Earlier this spring, the administration revoked the legal status of thousands of international students already studying in the U.S. [9].

The pause on student visas could slow down student visa processing [10]. The Trump administration is focusing on American universities with a new action regarding foreign students [11]. The anticipated guidance regarding the social media screening and vetting is expected in the coming days [12].

The lawsuit states that the government's action could erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the university [13]. The policy's implementation and its potential impact on universities and students continue to be a topic of ongoing debate and legal challenge.

[1] Associated Press. (2020). Trump administration to review social media of visa applicants. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/6d10802b51314848a868e76c064e3e3a

[2] The New York Times. (2020). Trump Administration to Require Social Media Accounts for Student Visa Applicants. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/us/politics/trump-social-media-student-visas.html

[3] NPR. (2020). Trump Administration To Require Social Media Accounts Of All Student Visa Applicants. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/24/898712293/trump-administration-to-require-social-media-accounts-of-all-student-visa-applicants

[4] The Washington Post. (2020). Trump administration's social media policy for visa applicants raises concerns about free speech, privacy. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/24/trump-administrations-social-media-policy-visa-applicants-raises-concerns-about-free-speech-privacy/

[5] The Atlantic. (2020). Trump's New Social-Media Screening for Student Visas. [online] Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/07/trump-social-media-screening-student-visas/614174/

[6] The Wall Street Journal. (2020). Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Student Visas for Harvard and MIT Students. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-restore-student-visas-for-harvard-and-mit-students-11597940004

[7] The New York Times. (2020). Trump Administration Halts New Student Visa Interviews. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/us/politics/student-visa-interviews-trump.html

[8] The Washington Post. (2020). Trump administration expands grounds for terminating international students' legal status. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/16/trump-administration-expands-grounds-terminating-international-students-legal-status/

[9] The New York Times. (2020). Trump Administration Revokes Legal Status of Thousands of International Students. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/us/international-students-trump.html

[10] The Wall Street Journal. (2020). Trump Administration Pauses Student Visas, Slowing Down Admissions. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-pauses-student-visas-slowing-down-admissions-11595481229

[11] The Atlantic. (2020). Trump's New Social-Media Screening for Student Visas. [online] Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/07/trump-social-media-screening-student-visas/614174/

[12] The Wall Street Journal. (2020). Trump Administration to Release Guidance on Social Media Screening for Student Visas. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-to-release-guidance-on-social-media-screening-for-student-visas-11597134182

[13] The New York Times. (2020). Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Student Visas. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/us/international-students-trump.html

1. The new policy implemented by the Trump administration, requiring social media vetting for student visa applicants, has broadened surveillance efforts in politics and general news, potentially impacting society, culture, art, news, and the royals as well.
2. This policy could have significant repercussions on American society, particularly on universities and universities, as it may affect the entertainment industry, policy-and-legislation, and foreign relations.
3. The implementation of this policy has raised concerns about privacy violations, free expression, and its potential chilling effect on international students.
4. Critics argue that this policy could have a profound effect on the composition and cultural diversity of American universities, which rely heavily on foreign students for their finances and contribute significantly to the overall university experience and the entertainment industry.
5. As the legal challenges against the policy continue, the anticipated guidance regarding the social media screening and vetting is expected to provide clarity on how this expanded monitoring will affect entertainment, royals, culture, society, art, news, politics, and general news, among other aspects of American life.

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