U.S. to Expand Social Media Screening for Foreign Students, Interview Scheduling Paused

American authorities plan to begin reviewing the social media activity of foreigners intending to study in the United States, Orda.kz reports, citing Politico.

Politico refers to a telegram from Secretary of State Mark Rubio, the contents of which were obtained by the publication. According to the document, the Trump administration intends to implement social media checks for all foreign applicants for student visas. In preparation for this policy, U.S. diplomatic missions have been instructed to temporarily pause the scheduling of new study visa interviews.

Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel (“Septel” is State Department shorthand for “separate telegram - Ed.), which we anticipate in the coming days,  the cable states.

Orda.kz has reached out to the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan for clarification on whether student visa issuance to Kazakhstani citizens has been suspended.

Previously, the Trump administration implemented similar screening procedures, though these were applied to students re-entering the country and were focused on identifying involvement in anti-Israel protests.

Currently, over one million foreign nationals are studying in the U.S.

Last week, the administration prohibited Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. Harvard has labeled the move illegal and is taking the matter to court.

According to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, seven Kazakhstani citizens are currently studying at Harvard under the Bolashaq scholarship program.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin