The U.S. State Department has temporarily stopped scheduling new visa interviews for international students as it prepares to expand social media vetting for applicants. Existing interview appointments remain unaffected. A directive signed by Secretary Marco Rubio orders consulates to halt new student visa slots while new screening guidelines are finalized. This move is part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on foreign students. With over 679,000 F-1 visa applications last year, India leads the pack with more than 330,000 students currently in the U.S.
