Trump Administration Halts New Student Visa Processing as It Considers Broader Social Media Scrutiny for Foreign Applicants

Kathmandu, May 28, 2025 – The United States has temporarily suspended scheduling new student visa interviews for international applicants, including Nepali students, as it prepares to enforce stricter social media screening requirements. This policy shift, revealed in a confidential State Department cable obtained by POLITICO, could significantly delay visa processing and impact Nepal’s growing cohort of US-bound students.  

Key Details

Immediate Pause 

US embassies worldwide, including in Nepal, have been instructed to freeze new appointments for F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas until further notice.  

Expanded Social Media Vetting

 The move precedes a potential mandate requiring **all foreign students** to submit social media histories for review. While past rules targeted students linked to Gaza-related protests, the new policy casts a wider net to screen for “terrorism links” and antisemitism.  

Social Media Risks

 Nepali applicants often use platforms like Facebook and TikTok to share campus life updates. Posts about political debates, cultural events, or even innocuous flags (e.g., Tibetan solidarity symbols) might trigger scrutiny under vague guidelines.  

 “Students should avoid discussing geopolitics online and archive old posts. “Even a meme criticizing US-Israel relations could raise red flags.”  

Sources: Agencies